WaterVerge

Is Earlville, IL Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A, with 1 unresolved violation on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

2K residents served 1 water system PWSID: IL0990150
Overall Score
94.3 / 100
Violations
1 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#24 of 891 in Illinois Top 4% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
AGRADE
Water Quality Grade
94.3/100
waterverge.com
A 94.3/100

Earlville, IL — Water Quality Report

Earlville's drinking water received a grade of A (94.3 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,613 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 2.0 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 9 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Earlville's water

Earlville ranks #24 out of 891 cities in Illinois for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state.

Earlville relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Earlville may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
94.3 out of 100 Grade A
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
44.3/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Earlville, IL water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Earlville's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (94.3/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,613 residents using groundwater (wells).

1
Active Violations
2.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Earlville

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Earlville's water quality assessment. Grade: A (94.3/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Nitrate.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Earlville's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 2.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Earlville's water system has 9 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remain unresolved.

MR
Most recent violations:
Oct 2000 Nitrate Resolved
Sep 1998 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Aug 1998 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Mar 1996 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Jan 1994 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Where does Earlville's water come from?

Earlville's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,613 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Earlville residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
2.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 13% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

9
Total violations
0
Health-based
1
Active / unresolved
Oct 2000
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

9 Total
1 Active
0 Health-based
8 Resolved
Violations by category
Total Coliform Rule
6
Nitrate Rule
1
Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule
1
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Oct 2000 Resolved
Nitrate
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2000
Sep 1998 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Sep 1998
Aug 1998 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Aug 1998
Mar 1996 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1996
Jan 1994 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jan 1994
Jul 1993 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jul 1993
Jul 1992 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jul 1992
Jun 1977 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jun 1981
Industrial pollution

Top industrial polluters within 10 miles of Earlville

Industrial polluters nearby

Reported releases to surface water by facilities near Earlville, ranked by pounds discharged annually.

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)Distance
RIDLEY USA INC (DBA RIDLEY FEED INGREDIENTS)
Food · ALLTECH INC
MENDOTA, IL61342
9.8 mi
ADM MILLING
Food · ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO
MENDOTA, IL61342
9.3 mi
MAHONEY ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS LLC
Food · MAHONEY ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS LLC
MENDOTA, IL61342
9.4 mi

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 2.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 5.1 ppb from 1993 (8.0 ppb) to 2025 (2.9 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,613
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Earlville's water comes from

Groundwater

Earlville's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,613 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Earlville

System Name PWSID Population Source
EARLVILLE IL0990150 1,613 GW
Regional Comparison

How Earlville compares

Full Illinois rankings →

Earlville's score of 94.3/100 is above the average of 56/100 among major Illinois cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Earlville (this city)
94.3
Chicago
35.2
Aurora
45.5
Joliet
38.5
Naperville
81.2
Champaign
91.9
Illinois avg
56
City Profile

About Earlville, IL

Economic Profile
$59,028
Median Income
$103,762
Median Home Value
$943/mo
Median Rent
7.1%
Unemployment
Community
34.9
Median Age
591
People / sq mi
7.8%
College Educated
65.4%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Earlville, IL tap water safe to drink?

Earlville's water quality earned a grade of A (94.3/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #24 out of 891 cities tested in Illinois.

What contaminants are in Earlville's water?

Lead was measured at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile). 9 violations are on record.

How is Earlville'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 Earlville?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Earlville's water come from?

Earlville's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,613 residents.

Is Earlville's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Earlville 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 9 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 Earlville's water compare to other cities?

Earlville ranks #24 out of 891 cities in Illinois (better than 97% of state cities) and #543 out of 15744 cities nationally (97th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Earlville's small water system affect quality?

Earlville's system serves approximately 1,613 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 9 violations on record.