Public water system · IL0375500
ActiveNorthern Illinois University-Dekalb
At a glance
Northern Illinois University-Dekalb (PWSID IL0375500) is an active community water system in DeKalb County, Illinois. It reports serving 6,500 people through 70 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a state government. EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2014.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
6,500
Service connections
70
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Northern Illinois University-Dekalb compare with other water systems in DeKalb County?
By EPA's size categories, Northern Illinois University-Dekalb is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). DeKalb County has 43 active public water systems, and Northern Illinois University-Dekalb is the 4th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 193% above the county average of 2,220 people per system, and accounts for 6.8% of the 95,450 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 Northern Illinois University-Dekalb is roughly in line with 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 groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 348 Illinois systems (9%) list purchased groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Northern Illinois University-Dekalb?
EPA lists Northern Illinois University-Dekalb 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 43 active systems in DeKalb County (2.3%) are also owned by a state government.
Does Northern Illinois University-Dekalb have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2014. The violations listed here began between June 1977 and July 2014. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (3 of them). EPA lists 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1992-12-07 | Required treatment not metOCCT/SOWT Study/Recommendation · code 57 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1977-06-30 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | No | Archived |
All 9 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.
Northern Illinois University-Dekalb: frequently asked questions
Who runs Northern Illinois University-Dekalb?
Northern Illinois University-Dekalb (PWSID IL0375500) is a community water system owned by a state government. It is regulated by the IL state drinking water program.
How many people does Northern Illinois University-Dekalb serve?
Northern Illinois University-Dekalb reports serving 6,500 people through 70 service connections in DeKalb County, Illinois.
Where does Northern Illinois University-Dekalb get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased groundwater. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Northern Illinois University-Dekalb have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2014. 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 Northern Illinois University-Dekalb'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 9 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2014. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IL state drinking water program.
Where can I find Northern Illinois University-Dekalb's water quality report?
As a community water system, Northern Illinois University-Dekalb 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 DeKalb County
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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, “Northern Illinois University-Dekalb, PWSID IL0375500, Illinois”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/illinois/northern-illinois-university-dekalb-il0375500 (data as of October 1, 2026).