Public water system · IL0770250
ActiveDowell
At a glance
Dowell (PWSID IL0770250) is an active community water system in Jackson County, Illinois. It reports serving 1,188 people through 486 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,188
Service connections
486
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Dowell compare with other water systems in Jackson County?
By EPA's size categories, Dowell is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Jackson County has 25 active public water systems. Its population served is about half of the county average of 2,289 people per system, and accounts for 2.1% of the 57,218 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Illinois, the 3,872 active systems average 3,204 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Dowell is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. Illinois has 1,773 active community water systems, 46% of the state's 3,872 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 619 Illinois systems (16%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Dowell?
EPA lists Dowell as owned by a local government. The IL state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 17 of the 25 active systems in Jackson County (68%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Dowell have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between July 1992 and October 2024. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (3 of them). EPA lists 3 as resolved and 3 as archived. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 1997-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1996-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1994-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1992-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
All 6 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Dowell: frequently asked questions
Who runs Dowell?
Dowell (PWSID IL0770250) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IL state drinking water program.
How many people does Dowell serve?
Dowell reports serving 1,188 people through 486 service connections in Jackson County, Illinois.
Where does Dowell get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Dowell have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Dowell's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IL state drinking water program.
Where can I find Dowell's water quality report?
As a community water system, Dowell must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Jackson County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale | Jackson | 22,107 | Community | Surface water |
| Murphysboro | Jackson | 10,241 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| South Highway PWD | Jackson | 4,972 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Murdale PWD | Jackson | 4,963 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Lakeside PWD | Jackson | 3,065 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| De Soto | Jackson | 1,910 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Dowell, PWSID IL0770250, Illinois”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/illinois/dowell-il0770250 (data as of October 1, 2026).