WaterVerge

Is Niantic, IL Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A-, with 6 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

648 residents served 1 water system PWSID: IL1150400
Overall Score
87 / 100
Violations
6 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Purchased ground water
#292 of 891 in Illinois Top 28% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
A-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
87/100
waterverge.com
A- 87/100

Niantic, IL — Water Quality Report

Niantic's drinking water received a grade of A- (87 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 648 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 15 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 6 remain unresolved.

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

What to know about Niantic's water

Niantic ranks #292 out of 891 cities in Illinois for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state.

Niantic 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, Niantic may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
87 out of 100 Grade A-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
40/45
B
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
5/10
D
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Purchased ground water.
Water Safety

Is Niantic, IL water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Niantic's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (87/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 648 residents using groundwater (wells).

6
Active Violations
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
1 event
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Niantic

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

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Niantic's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (87/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Lead and Copper Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Public Notice.

Violation
3 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Consumer Confidence Rule, TTHM.

Disaster
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3230). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Key contaminant findings

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

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Niantic's water system has 15 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 6 remain unresolved. 2 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MROther
Most recent violations:
Jan 2025 Lead and Copper Rule Open
Oct 2021 Public Notice Open
Jul 2020 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Resolved
Jul 2020 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Jul 2020 TTHM Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Effingham County has experienced 1 federally declared disaster since 2005. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA DR-3230

Where does Niantic's water come from?

Niantic's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 648 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Niantic residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Niantic's water.

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
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

15
Total violations
0
Health-based
6
Active / unresolved
Jan 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

15 Total
6 Active
0 Health-based
9 Resolved
4 SNC
Violations by category
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
4
Public Notice Rule and Revised PN Rule
3
Total Coliform Rule
3
Lead and Copper Rule
1
Consumer Confidence Rule
1
Jan 2025 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Oct 2021 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Jul 2020 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Mar 2006 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Mar 2006 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Jul 2020 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Aug 2020
Jul 2020 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Aug 2020
Sep 2017 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Aug 2018
Sep 2017 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Aug 2018
Jan 2005 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jan 2005
Jan 2005 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 2005
Aug 1995 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Aug 1995
Jan 1991 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jan 1991
Jun 1977 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jun 1981
Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

1
Declared disasters
Sep 2005
Most recent
Hurricane
Most common type

Effingham County has experienced 1 federally declared disaster since 2005. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA #3230

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 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 0.0 ppb from 1993 (0.0 ppb) to 2024 (0.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Purchased Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
648
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Niantic's water comes from

Purchased Groundwater

Niantic purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.

Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of Niantic'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 648 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Niantic

System Name PWSID Population Source
EJ WATER-NIANTIC IL1150400 648 GWP
Regional Comparison

How Niantic compares

Full Illinois rankings →

Niantic's score of 87/100 is above the average of 56/100 among major Illinois cities. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities.

Niantic (this city)
87
Chicago
35.2
Aurora
45.5
Joliet
38.5
Naperville
81.2
Champaign
91.9
Illinois avg
56
City Profile

About Niantic, IL

Wikipedia →

Dieterich is a village in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. The population was 890 at the 2020 census. Dieterich is part of the Effingham, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Economic Profile
$61,307
Median Income
$100,034
Median Home Value
$683/mo
Median Rent
12%
Unemployment
Community
32.4
Median Age
278
People / sq mi
10.4%
College Educated
85.5%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Niantic, IL tap water safe to drink?

Niantic's water quality earned a grade of A- (87/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #292 out of 891 cities tested in Illinois.

What contaminants are in Niantic's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 15 violations are on record.

How is Niantic'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 Niantic?

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

Where does Niantic's water come from?

Niantic's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 648 residents.

Is Niantic's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Niantic 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 15 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 Niantic's water compare to other cities?

Niantic ranks #292 out of 891 cities in Illinois (better than 67% of state cities) and #4356 out of 15744 cities nationally (72th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Niantic's small water system affect quality?

Niantic's system serves approximately 648 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 15 violations on record.