Public water system · IL0950600
ActiveWataga
At a glance
Wataga (PWSID IL0950600) is an active community water system in Knox County, Illinois. It reports serving 965 people through 386 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, one is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
965
Service connections
386
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Wataga compare with other water systems in Knox County?
By EPA's size categories, Wataga is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Knox County has 34 active public water systems, and Wataga is the 6th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 33% below the county average of 1,442 people per system, and accounts for 2% of the 49,041 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 Wataga 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 Wataga?
EPA lists Wataga 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. 14 of the 34 active systems in Knox County (41%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Wataga have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025. The violations listed here began between March 1996 and September 2025. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 2 monitoring, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 1 reporting and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (3 of them). EPA lists 5 as resolved, 4 as archived and 3 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. 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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-09-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-08-22 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Unaddressed |
| 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 |
| 2024-09-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitritecode 1041 | No | Archived |
| 2018-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1998-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1996-03-01 | 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.
Wataga: frequently asked questions
Who runs Wataga?
Wataga (PWSID IL0950600) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IL state drinking water program.
How many people does Wataga serve?
Wataga reports serving 965 people through 386 service connections in Knox County, Illinois.
Where does Wataga 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 Wataga have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in September 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 Wataga'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, one is health-based, and the most recent began in September 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 Wataga's water quality report?
As a community water system, Wataga 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 Knox County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galesburg | Knox | 31,620 | Community | Groundwater |
| Abingdon | Knox | 3,275 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Knoxville | Knox | 3,120 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| I74 Spoon River Rest Area | Knox | 2,356 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Aqua Illinois-Oak Run | Knox | 1,885 | Community | Groundwater |
| East Galesburg | Knox | 860 | Community | Purchased 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, “Wataga, PWSID IL0950600, Illinois”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/illinois/wataga-il0950600 (data as of October 1, 2026).