Public water system · IL0295500
ActiveEastern Illinois University
At a glance
Eastern Illinois University (PWSID IL0295500) is an active community water system in Coles County, Illinois. It reports serving 5,500 people through 65 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a state government. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
5,500
Service connections
65
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Eastern Illinois University compare with other water systems in Coles County?
By EPA's size categories, Eastern Illinois University is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Coles County has 9 active public water systems, and Eastern Illinois University is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is roughly in line with the county average of 5,392 people per system, and accounts for 11% of the 48,528 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 Eastern Illinois University is about 18% 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 Eastern Illinois University?
EPA lists Eastern Illinois University as owned by a state 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. 1 of the 9 active systems in Coles County (11%) are also owned by a state government.
Does Eastern Illinois University have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2025. The violations listed here began between June 1977 and August 2025. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 4 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 2 monitoring and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Consumer Confidence Rule (4 of them). EPA lists 10 as resolved and 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chloraminecode 1006 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-06-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chloraminecode 1006 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-10-06 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 1977-06-30 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | No | Archived |
All 11 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.
Eastern Illinois University: frequently asked questions
Who runs Eastern Illinois University?
Eastern Illinois University (PWSID IL0295500) is a community water system owned by a state government. It is regulated by the IL state drinking water program.
How many people does Eastern Illinois University serve?
Eastern Illinois University reports serving 5,500 people through 65 service connections in Coles County, Illinois.
Where does Eastern Illinois University 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 Eastern Illinois University have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2025. 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 Eastern Illinois University'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 11 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IL state drinking water program.
Where can I find Eastern Illinois University's water quality report?
As a community water system, Eastern Illinois University 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 Coles County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mattoon | Coles | 19,500 | Community | Surface water |
| Charleston | Coles | 17,286 | Community | Surface water |
| Embarras Area Water District | Coles | 3,750 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Oakland | Coles | 739 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Cooks Mills Water Association | Coles | 720 | Community | Groundwater |
| Ashmore | Coles | 637 | Community | Groundwater |
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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, “Eastern Illinois University, PWSID IL0295500, Illinois”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/illinois/eastern-illinois-university-il0295500 (data as of October 1, 2026).