01The verdict: is Beecher City water safe?
Beecher City's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D+ (53.7/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 500 residents using groundwater (wells).
16 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓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 ↓28 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Beecher City's drinking water received a grade of D+ (53.7 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 500 residents using purchased ground 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 38 violations on record, including 4 health-based violations. 16 remain unresolved.
Beecher City ranks #825 out of 882 cities in Illinois for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state. Beecher City purchases its water from a regional wholesaler, meaning quality depends on both the supplier's treatment and the local distribution system's condition. As a small community water system, Beecher City may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 28 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Beecher City's water
Every contaminant flagged in Beecher City, 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
03Beecher City'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 38 violations on record, including 4 health-based violations. 16 remain unresolved.
7 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 0 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2025) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Beecher City's water comes from
Beecher City purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.
Purchased Groundwater
Water is bought from a regional wholesaler; quality starts at the supplier's intake and treatment.
Wholesale supplier
Primary treatment happens at the wholesaler; the local utility maintains disinfectant residual in its pipes.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
500 people
Residents served across Beecher City's service area.
Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of Beecher City's local distribution pipes and storage facilities. Purchased water systems are common in suburban areas and smaller communities that lack the infrastructure for independent treatment. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 500 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEECHER CITY | IL0490100 | 500 | Purchased Groundwater |
Water bodies near Beecher City
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Beecher City'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.
Flood & storm history
1 federal disaster declaration on record for Effingham County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Beecher City compares
Scores for nearby Illinois cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Illinois average (55/100)
Beecher City scores 53.7/100 — on par with the Illinois average of 55/100. It outscores 6 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 Beecher City's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Beecher City'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 Beecher City alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Beecher City, IL tap water safe to drink?
Beecher City's water quality earned a grade of D+ (53.7/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #825 out of 882 cities tested in Illinois.
What contaminants are in Beecher City's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 38 violations are on record.
How is Beecher City'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 Beecher City?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Beecher City's water come from?
Beecher City's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 500 residents.
What health violations has Beecher City's water system had?
Beecher City has 4 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 16 violations remain unresolved.
Is Beecher City's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Beecher City uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 38 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Beecher City's water compare to other cities?
Beecher City ranks #825 out of 882 cities in Illinois (better than 6% of state cities) and #12448 out of 15382 cities nationally (19th percentile). The grade of D+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Beecher City's small water system affect quality?
Beecher City's system serves approximately 500 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 38 violations on record.