Public water system · IL1570600
ActiveSparta
At a glance
Sparta (PWSID IL1570600) is an active community water system in Randolph County, Illinois. It reports serving 4,395 people through 2,151 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, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
4,395
Service connections
2,151
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Sparta compare with other water systems in Randolph County?
By EPA's size categories, Sparta is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Randolph County has 21 active public water systems, and Sparta is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 3.1 times the county average of 1,413 people per system, and accounts for 15% of the 29,678 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 Sparta is about 34% 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. 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 Sparta?
EPA lists Sparta 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. 12 of the 21 active systems in Randolph County (57%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Sparta have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2025. The violations listed here began between December 2019 and October 2025. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 2 monitoring, 2 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 reporting and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 10 as resolved and 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-08-22 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-07-02 | ReportingNotification, Known or Potential LSL · code 4H | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2024-10-17 | Required treatment not metLSL Inventory · code 2E | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | Yes | Unaddressed |
| 2023-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chloraminecode 1006 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chloraminecode 1006 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-07-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2021-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2021-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2019-12-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | 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.
Sparta: frequently asked questions
Who runs Sparta?
Sparta (PWSID IL1570600) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IL state drinking water program.
How many people does Sparta serve?
Sparta reports serving 4,395 people through 2,151 service connections in Randolph County, Illinois.
Where does Sparta 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 Sparta have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 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 Sparta'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, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 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 Sparta's water quality report?
As a community water system, Sparta 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 Randolph County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | Randolph | 8,407 | Community | Surface water |
| Red Bud | Randolph | 3,804 | Community | Groundwater |
| Menard Correctional Center | Randolph | 2,950 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Egyptian Water Company | Randolph | 2,330 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Steeleville | Randolph | 1,960 | Community | Groundwater |
| Coulterville | Randolph | 1,052 | 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, “Sparta, PWSID IL1570600, Illinois”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/illinois/sparta-il1570600 (data as of October 1, 2026).