01The verdict: is Bedford Park water safe?
Based on EPA testing data, Bedford Park's tap water is generally safe to drink. The water system earned a grade of A+ (95.8/100), meeting federal drinking water standards across key contaminant categories. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 602 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
Nothing over a legal limit
Every contaminant measured in Bedford Park's water is within its EPA limit, and no violations are unresolved.
See the testing ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
9 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Bedford Park's drinking water received a grade of A+ (95.8 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 602 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 2 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. All violations have been resolved.
Bedford Park ranks #10 out of 882 cities in Illinois for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Bedford Park may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Bedford Park's water
Every contaminant flagged in Bedford Park, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Illinois
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Illinois
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Bedford Park's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 2 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. All violations have been resolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Bedford Park.
▼ Down 11 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2025) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Bedford Park's water comes from
Bedford Park's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
602 people
Residents served across Bedford Park's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 602 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEDFORD PARK | IL0310120 | 602 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Bedford Park
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Bedford Park's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Bedford Park's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
5 facilities within 10 miles reported 23 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Flood & storm history
9 federal disaster declarations on record for Cook County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Superfund proximity
1 National Priorities List site within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily indicate tap-water contamination — the connection depends on hydrology and treatment.
06How Bedford Park compares
Scores for nearby Illinois cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Illinois average (55/100)
Bedford Park scores 95.8/100 — above the Illinois average of 55/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities. Full Illinois rankings →
35.2 / 100DAurora, IL
45.5 / 100FJoliet, IL
38.5 / 100BNaperville, IL
81.2 / 100FRockford, IL
38.4 / 100FKankakee, IL
42.6 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Bedford Park's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Bedford Park's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Bedford Park alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Bedford Park, IL tap water safe to drink?
Bedford Park's water quality earned a grade of A+ (95.8/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #10 out of 882 cities tested in Illinois.
What contaminants are in Bedford Park's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 2 violations are on record.
How is Bedford Park's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Bedford Park?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Bedford Park's water come from?
Bedford Park's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 602 residents.
What health violations has Bedford Park's water system had?
Bedford Park has 1 health-based violation on record. The most recent violation was recorded in October 1994. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. All health violations have been resolved.
How does Bedford Park's water compare to other cities?
Bedford Park ranks #10 out of 882 cities in Illinois (better than 99% of state cities) and #275 out of 15382 cities nationally (98th percentile). The grade of A+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Bedford Park's small water system affect quality?
Bedford Park's system serves approximately 602 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 2 violations on record.