Can You Drink Chicago Tap Water in 2023?

While Chicago’s tap water meets the enforceable standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the lead presence in the water poses health concerns for residents.

Researchers estimate that 2.7 million Chicagoans are affected by lead water service lines connecting the water main to individual homes.

Chicago Water Quality Report: What’s in the Water?

Chicago’s annual water quality report indicates the presence of several substances, such as lead, barium, copper, nitrates, coliform bacteria, and more, in the tap water. All substances are within the allowable limit set by the EPA, but the high lead levels are still concerning.

A Table of Contaminants in Chicago’s Tap Water in 2023

Below is a table that shows the concentrations of the most common contaminants found in Chicago’s municipal water and how they fare against the EPA regulations.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) represents the ideal maximum contaminant level in the water, which means the contaminant has no known or expected risk to health at or below this level. However, MCLG are non-enforceable standards.

The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) expresses the upper limit of a contaminant that can be present in drinking water, as enforced by EPA standards.

Lead Presence in Chicago Tap Water

Lead presence in tap water is a serious concern for all Chicago residents, particularly children. Recent studies estimate that 70% of young children in Chicago are exposed to lead via home tap water, and 20% of those may have high levels of lead in their blood.

While the maximum contaminant level for lead set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards is 15 ppb, no level of lead exposure is considered safe according to the EPA and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lead poisoning harms the development of the brain and nervous system in children and causes long-term and permanent harm to multiple body systems in adults.

Lead contamination is often a result of outdated plumbing, corrosion, or natural deposits. In Chicago’s case, the cause is the city’s old water service lines, which had to be built from lead per city code until lead pipes were banned in 1986. Today, roughly 400,000 homes in Chicago still have lead service lines, the highest figure among all US cities.

Per EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule, if the lead levels in water reach 15 ppb, the authorities must take action by adding corrosion-control chemicals to the water. However, EPA audits show that excessive lead contamination is rarely reported to the federal government, as was shown by the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where the tap water contained hazardous levels of lead.

Still, local authorities in Chicago are taking action. The city of Chicago is adding corrosion control chemicals (blended phosphate) to water in an effort to minimize the levels of lead. The city also announced it will switch to using orthophosphate in the fall of 2024.

Chicago also runs a Lead Service Line Replacement program. Any buildings with broken and/or leaking lead service lines, buildings affected by water main or sewer main replacement work, state-licensed daycares, and income-qualified residents may apply to have their lead service lines replaced with copper service lines for free. Property owners who want to replace their service lines out-of-pocket can also apply to waive the permit fees up to $5000.

Other Substances Found in Chicago’s Water: Barium, Copper, Nitrate, and Bacteria

Various other potentially harmful substances are also found in Chicago tap water, but none of them are present in levels that are detrimental to human health.

Barium is a naturally found element that can result in paralysis and death when consumed in large amounts. Copper can cause several issues varying in severity—from dizziness to tachycardia.

Nitrate is a powerful toxin that can lead to serious health problems for infants and children. Coliform bacteria are mostly harmless, except for one type: Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is usually the best indicator of fecal pollution and pathogens in water.

That being said, none of these contaminants are at dangerous levels in Chicago’s water:

• Barium’s highest level detected was 0.0195 ppm, while 2 ppm is the allowed limit. Barium comes from the discharge of drilling wastes and metal refineries as well as natural deposits.
• Copper was found at a maximum level of 0,079 ppm, while the threshold that requires action is 1,3 ppm. Copper can enter water from corrosion of household plumbing, wood preservatives, and natural deposits.
• Nitrates were found at a maximum level of 0.33 ppm, while 10 ppm is considered safe. Nitrates enter water from fertilizer runoff, leaching from septic tanks, and natural deposits.
• Coliform bacteria were detected at the highest rate of 0.4%, while concentrations up to 5% are considered safe. The source of coliform in water is animal or human waste.

Chicago’s Water Also Includes Additives: Total Trihalomethanes, Haloacetic Acids, and Fluoride

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), haloacetic acids (HAA5), and fluoride are also measured in Chicago’s tap water.

• TTHMs are chlorine by-products used by municipalities for water disinfection. Although they can be carcinogenic at high levels, local governments are careful not to surpass the EPA standards of 80 ppb. There’s no concern for TTHMs in Chicago, as only 32.6 ppb of them are present in the tap water.
• HAA5 is commonly used as a disinfection byproduct for tap water. Although it can be carcinogenic at high concentrations, the 16.4 ppb of HAA5 in Chicago tap water is well below the EPA threshold of 60 ppb.
• The authorities add fluoride to water to promote teeth health, but when it’s over 4 ppm, it might cause problems with bone growth. Chicago tap water does not breach this limit at 0.74 ppm.

Does Chicago Have Hard Water?

According to the USGS (United States Geological Survey), the water hardness levels are as follows:

• 0 – 60ppm hardness: soft
• 61 – 120ppm hardness: moderately hard
• 121 – 180ppm hardness: hard
• >180: very hard.

Chicago’s tap water, measured at 148ppm, is considered hard, although it’s still below the Illinois state average of 200ppm.

If you’re unsure about your water hardness level, we recommend you send your water sample to a certified water testing lab like Simplelab Technologies.

Where Does Chicago Get Its Water From?

Chicago’s tap water comes from Lake Michigan. Water from the lake enters the intake crib at a depth of 20-30 feet and undergoes a treatment process before entering the public water supply.

How Tap Water is Treated in Chicago

Chicago’s tap water goes through a multi-step treatment process before it is distributed to the citizens.

This process includes the following steps:

• Passing through eight screens to filter out debris
• First chemical treatment
• Flocculation process to clump sediment together
• Settling basins to allow sediment to settle out of the water
• Filtration through sand and gravel
• Final chemical application

Chemicals used to treat tap water in Chicago include:

• Chlorine – to disinfect
• Aluminum sulfate – to coagulate impurities
• Blended polyphosphate – to coat pipes to minimize lead leaching
• Activated Carbon –  to remove unpleasant tastes and odors.
• Fluoride – to prevent cavities in children’s teeth.

The amount of chemicals used to treat Chicago water is approximately 15 ppm or, in other words, around a teaspoon per 100 gallons of water.

Does Chicago Have the Cleanest Tap Water?

While official tests have shown Chicago’s water to be within the EPA standards, it’s not the cleanest water city in the country. The high levels of lead in the water present a serious issue for the city’s residents. While the chemical additives put in water may help control the lead levels, the city is far from solving the problem.

So, the safest and most logical course of action for Chicagoans is to take matters into their own hands by installing a filtration device that’s effective against lead.

Do People Drink Tap Water in Chicago?

Many people drink tap water in Chicago, though it isn’t known how many households filter their tap water.

If you are concerned about lead in your tap water, the EPA issued advice to Chicago residents on how to minimize the levels of lead in their drinking water.

Final Thoughts

Chicago’s tap water contains no trace of dangerous contaminants like arsenic or cyanide. Other dangerous metals and chemicals, such as copper, barium, or HAA5, are also soundly within the limits stipulated by EPA standards.

However, like many other cities across the United States, there’s lead in the water due to old water service lines. Although the local government is running programs to take care of the lead contamination, there’s still a long way to go.

We recommend Chicagoans residing in houses connected to lead pipes filter their water.