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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 DEKALB • Updated October 2026
Grade C — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
DEKALB has a mixed record — read the reasons below; the deductions come from real EPA violations, lead results or PFAS detections, not from a template.
DeKalb, IL tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records because of lead at 13 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
DeKalb, IL tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records because of lead at 13 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
DEKALB's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2026-01-01 to 2026-06-30) was 13 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.
No. None of the 290 UCMR5 PFAS results for DEKALB (2023-04-18 to 2023-12-27) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
DEKALB has 4 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
DEKALB reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 40,290 people (EPA PWSID IL0370100).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Compare filter options for your DeKalb tap water
Lead was found at 13 ppb (90th percentile) in DeKalb's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
See the filters matched to DeKalb'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.
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DEKALB · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years. The 1 violation on file in that window is monitoring or reporting paperwork issues, not measured contaminant exceedances.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate ReportingConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2025-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2025-11-21 |
| Monitoring, RegularCombined Radium (-226 and -228) | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-01-01 → 2022-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2022-12-31 |
| Monitoring, Routine (RTCR)Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | 2018-06-01 → 2018-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2018-06-30 |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)Chlorine | Monitoring & reporting | 2018-04-01 → 2018-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2018-06-30 |
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 DEKALB
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 DEKALB sampled had lead at or below 13 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 | 13 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2025-07-01 → 2025-12-31 | 12 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2025-01-01 → 2025-06-30 | 11 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2020-01-01 → 2022-12-31 | 7.5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2017-01-01 → 2019-12-31 | 9 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2014-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | 6.36 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2007-01-01 → 2007-12-31 | 5.75 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2006-01-01 → 2006-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2005-01-01 → 2005-06-30 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2004-07-01 → 2004-12-31 | 5.2 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Copper 90th percentile: 1.7 mg/L (2003-07-01 → 2003-12-31); action level 1.3 mg/L.
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-04-18 to 2023-12-27 · 290 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 290 UCMR5 PFAS results for DEKALB were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 10 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 10 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 10 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 10 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 10 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 10 | < 3 | 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.
Lithium (also monitored under UCMR5, not a PFAS): detected in 3 of 10 samples, max 18.9 µg/L. There is no federal limit for lithium.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for DEKALB · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples DEKALB reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Radium-226/228 is flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 157 detects | 0.697 µg/L | 2.1 µg/L | 10 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Nitrate (as N) | 407 detects | 0.06 mg/L | 0.54 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 15 | 0.953 mg/L | 1.15 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 150 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 100 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Radium-226/228 | 3924 detects | 1.742 pCi/L | 5.8 pCi/L | 5 pCi/LMCL | 4 of 39 samples over MCL |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 30 | 12.742 µg/L | 26.3 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 30 | 7.136 µg/L | 20.9 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Lead (tap samples) | 9126 detects | 1.564 µg/L | 14 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 9166 detects | 201.165 µg/L | 1000 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 DeKalb will follow up - no obligation.
DEKALB · 10,815 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
DEKALB reports 192 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (1.8% of the lines it has inventoried). 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 IL0370100 · See all Illinois lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Groundwater systems draw from wells; naturally occurring arsenic, nitrate, radium and uranium are the readings to watch, along with PFAS near industrial or military sites.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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 DeKalb residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 60115). 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 DeKalb 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.
DeKalb ranks #48 of 56 graded Illinois cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in DeKalb's water, with removal options for each.
DeKalb, IL tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records because of lead at 13 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
DEKALB's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2026-01-01 to 2026-06-30) was 13 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.
No. None of the 290 UCMR5 PFAS results for DEKALB (2023-04-18 to 2023-12-27) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
DEKALB has 4 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
DEKALB reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 40,290 people (EPA PWSID IL0370100).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Lead was found at 13 ppb (90th percentile) in DeKalb's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
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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.
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Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
Find the right filter for your DeKalb water quality needs:
Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for DeKalb, IL.
County radon prediction and EPA zone for homes around DeKalb.
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.