Champaign County, Illinois — public water systems

How does Champaign County compare with other Illinois counties?

Champaign County has the 14th-most active public water systems among the 149 counties listed for active Illinois systems in EPA records; among the 104 with 3 or more systems, the median has 18. Its systems report 208,407 people served in total, the 10th-largest county figure in the state and 1.7% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 3,158 people, roughly in line with the Illinois average of 3,204. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Champaign County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Champaign County's active systems draw on groundwater (45, 68%) and purchased groundwater (21, 32%). Overall, all rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and none on surface water, compared with 82% and 18% across Illinois. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Il American-Champaign, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Champaign County?

Champaign County's active systems break down as 37 community systems (56%), 4 non-transient non-community systems (6.1%) and 25 transient non-community systems (38%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (68%), local government (26%), state government (4.5%) and public/private partnership (1.5%).