Public water system · IL1770250
ActiveGerman Valley
At a glance
German Valley (PWSID IL1770250) is an active community water system in Stephenson County, Illinois. It reports serving 463 people through 191 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2021.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
463
Service connections
191
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does German Valley compare with other water systems in Stephenson County?
By EPA's size categories, German Valley is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Stephenson County has 42 active public water systems. Its population served is about 43% below the county average of 811 people per system, and accounts for 1.4% of the 34,049 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 German Valley 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 2,808 Illinois systems (73%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates German Valley?
EPA lists German Valley 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. 10 of the 42 active systems in Stephenson County (24%) are also owned by a local government.
Does German Valley have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2021. The violations listed here began between September 1991 and July 2021. By type: 5 contaminant level above the legal limit, 4 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 3 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Barium (5 of them). EPA lists 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-10-13 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Bariumcode 1010 | Yes | Archived |
| 2016-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Bariumcode 1010 | Yes | Archived |
| 2015-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-02 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Bariumcode 1010 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Bariumcode 1010 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Bariumcode 1010 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1991-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
The 12 most recent 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.
German Valley: frequently asked questions
Who runs German Valley?
German Valley (PWSID IL1770250) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IL state drinking water program.
How many people does German Valley serve?
German Valley reports serving 463 people through 191 service connections in Stephenson County, Illinois.
Where does German Valley get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does German Valley have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2021. 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 German Valley'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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2021. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IL state drinking water program.
Where can I find German Valley's water quality report?
As a community water system, German Valley 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 Stephenson County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeport | Stephenson | 23,930 | Community | Groundwater |
| Lena | Stephenson | 2,680 | Community | Groundwater |
| Pearl City | Stephenson | 790 | Community | Groundwater |
| Orangeville | Stephenson | 780 | Community | Groundwater |
| Cedarville | Stephenson | 663 | Community | Groundwater |
| Prairie Path Water Company-Northern Hill | Stephenson | 600 | 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, “German Valley, PWSID IL1770250, Illinois”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/illinois/german-valley-il1770250 (data as of October 1, 2026).