Loading water data...
Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for CALUMET CITY • Updated October 2026
Grade F — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
CALUMET CITY has serious issues in EPA's records: repeated health-based violations, unresolved violations, PFAS above the federal limit or lead near the action level. We recommend filtering drinking water.
Calumet City, IL tap water is legal to drink but grades F on EPA's records, mainly because of 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years (1 unresolved) and lead at 12.4 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. A certified filter matched to those findings is a reasonable precaution. The catch is lead pipes: Calumet City's water system reports 4,121 lead or galvanized service lines still in the ground in EPA's 2026 inventory, and lead leaches from those pipes after the water leaves the plant. If your home is on one, test at the tap or use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
Calumet City, IL tap water is legal to drink but grades F on EPA's records, mainly because of 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years (1 unresolved) and lead at 12.4 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. A certified filter matched to those findings is a reasonable precaution. The catch is lead pipes: Calumet City's water system reports 4,121 lead or galvanized service lines still in the ground in EPA's 2026 inventory, and lead leaches from those pipes after the water leaves the plant. If your home is on one, test at the tap or use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
CALUMET CITY's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2026-01-01 to 2026-06-30) was 12.4 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-06-28 to 2024-09-16) detected PFHxA, PFPeA, all below federal MCLs. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
CALUMET CITY has 10 violations on file since 2016: 1 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CALUMET CITY reports purchased surface water as its primary source and serves about 37,000 people (EPA PWSID IL0310390).
We recommend one. An NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified filter addresses lead.
Compare filter options for your Calumet City tap water
CALUMET CITY has 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years.
See the filters matched to Calumet City's EPA results → — which certification actually removes what was found here, and what it does not touch.
Unsure which contaminants to treat? Compare home kits and certified lab testing before buying.
Amazon. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
CALUMET CITY · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records 1 health-based violation for this system in the last five years, and 1 health-based violation is still listed as unaddressed or addressed-but-not-resolved. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or a required treatment step was not met.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSL InventoryLEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | Treatment technique | 2024-10-17 | Unaddressed |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR)Revised Total Coliform Rule | MCL exceeded | 2019-09-01 → 2019-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2019-09-30 |
| Public Notification Violation for NPDWR ViolationPublic Notice | Other | 2025-08-02 | Unaddressed |
| Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate ReportingConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2025-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2025-09-29 |
| Monitoring, Routine (RTCR)Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | 2025-07-01 → 2025-07-31 | Resolvedreturned 2025-07-31 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate ReportingConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2023-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2024-07-01 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate ReportingConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2022-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2023-06-15 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate ReportingConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2018-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2019-07-02 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate ReportingConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2017-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2017-09-28 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate ReportingConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2016-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2017-06-28 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by CALUMET CITY
Below the action level, but detectable. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2026-01-01 to 2026-06-30), 90% of the homes CALUMET CITY sampled had lead at or below 12.4 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 → 2026-06-30 | 12.4 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2025-07-01 → 2025-12-31 | 15 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2025-01-01 → 2025-06-30 | 15.5 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2022-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 17 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2019-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 11 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2016-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | 5.93 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2015-07-01 → 2015-12-31 | 12.8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2015-01-01 → 2015-06-30 | 5.02 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2012-01-01 → 2014-12-31 | 16.3 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 11.1 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2009-01-01 → 2011-12-31 | 11.1 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-06-28 to 2024-09-16 · 232 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
PFHxA, PFPeA detected at low levels; no compound was at or above its federal MCL. Detections below the MCL are common in surface-water systems and are reported here exactly as EPA published them.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 8 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 8 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 8 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 8 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 8 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 8 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHxA | 1 / 8 | 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFPeA | 1 / 8 | 3.2 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them → · Best filters for PFAS →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for CALUMET CITY · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples CALUMET CITY reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Every scored contaminant stayed within its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and averaged below 80% of the limit. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 83 | 17.37 µg/L | 32.4 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 83 | 6.283 µg/L | 13.1 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Lead (tap samples) | 21348 detects | 3.723 µg/L | 86.8 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 21327 detects | 39.479 µg/L | 901 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Calumet City will follow up - no obligation.
CALUMET CITY · 9,728 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
CALUMET CITY reports 4,121 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (42% of the lines it has inventoried), plus 1,226 lines whose material is still unknown. A lead service line is the pipe between the water main and a building, so treated water can pick up lead after it leaves the plant — which city-level testing does not capture. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must replace lead lines within 10 years starting in 2027.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID IL0310390 · See all Illinois lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Calumet City homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Calumet City faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Calumet City households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Calumet City residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 60409). All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Calumet City yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Calumet City ranks #56 of 56 graded Illinois cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in Calumet City's water, with removal options for each.
Calumet City, IL tap water is legal to drink but grades F on EPA's records, mainly because of 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years (1 unresolved) and lead at 12.4 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. A certified filter matched to those findings is a reasonable precaution. The catch is lead pipes: Calumet City's water system reports 4,121 lead or galvanized service lines still in the ground in EPA's 2026 inventory, and lead leaches from those pipes after the water leaves the plant. If your home is on one, test at the tap or use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
CALUMET CITY's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2026-01-01 to 2026-06-30) was 12.4 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-06-28 to 2024-09-16) detected PFHxA, PFPeA, all below federal MCLs. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
CALUMET CITY has 10 violations on file since 2016: 1 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CALUMET CITY reports purchased surface water as its primary source and serves about 37,000 people (EPA PWSID IL0310390).
We recommend one. An NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified filter addresses lead.
CALUMET CITY has 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years.
Most Popular for Lead
ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher
NSF 53 certified to reduce lead & chromium — no installation, the easiest way to start protecting your water today.
Check Price on AmazonCompare direct from Waterdrop
Filters rated for lead reduction
Waterdrop's lead collection — every filter here is selected for lead reduction, so you can compare options rated for this exact problem.
Shop Filters Rated for Lead →Whole-Home Filtration System
Whole-house system — treats every tap at the source
For consistently poor water, a whole-home system filters every faucet, shower, and appliance — the permanent, install-once fix that goes beyond a single point-of-use filter.
Explore Whole-Home SystemsNot sure what filter you need?
Test your tap water first, so you filter for what's actually in it.
Shop Home Water Test Kits →We may earn a commission from Amazon and Waterdrop when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
Find the right filter for your Calumet City water quality needs:
Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Calumet City, IL.
County radon prediction and EPA zone for homes around Calumet City.
Arsenic and nitrate risk for homes on a well instead of city water.
Understand your water better with our in-depth guides on contaminants, filtration, and water safety.