Public water system · IL0971250
ActiveNorth Chicago
At a glance
North Chicago (PWSID IL0971250) is an active community water system in Lake County, Illinois. It reports serving 16,813 people through 4,211 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
16,813
Service connections
4,211
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does North Chicago compare with other water systems in Lake County?
By EPA's size categories, North Chicago is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Lake County has 266 active public water systems. Its population served is about 6.9 times the county average of 2,442 people per system, and accounts for 2.6% of the 649,474 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 North Chicago is about 151% above 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. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 89 Illinois systems (2.3%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates North Chicago?
EPA lists North Chicago 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. 60 of the 266 active systems in Lake County (23%) are also owned by a local government.
Does North Chicago have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between January 2004 and July 2025. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 11 as resolved and 1 as unaddressed. 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. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2024-06-20 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalatecode 2039 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2019-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-02-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2004-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Benzenecode 2990 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,1,2-Trichloroethanecode 2985 | No | Resolved |
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.
North Chicago: frequently asked questions
Who runs North Chicago?
North Chicago (PWSID IL0971250) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IL state drinking water program.
How many people does North Chicago serve?
North Chicago reports serving 16,813 people through 4,211 service connections in Lake County, Illinois.
Where does North Chicago get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does North Chicago have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 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 North Chicago'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, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 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 North Chicago's water quality report?
As a community water system, North Chicago 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 Lake County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukegan | Lake | 87,149 | Community | Surface water |
| Vernon Hills - Lake Co Pw | Lake | 33,207 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Mundelein | Lake | 31,500 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Gurnee | Lake | 30,193 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Highland Park | Lake | 30,176 | Community | Surface water |
| Round Lake Beach | Lake | 27,200 | 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, “North Chicago, PWSID IL0971250, Illinois”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/illinois/north-chicago-il0971250 (data as of October 1, 2026).