WaterVerge

Is Pleasant Hill, IL Tap Water Safe to Drink?

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

1K residents served 1 water system PWSID: IL1490800
Overall Score
75.1 / 100
Violations
6 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#673 of 891 in Illinois Top 62% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
BGRADE
Water Quality Grade
75.1/100
waterverge.com
B 75.1/100

Pleasant Hill, IL — Water Quality Report

Pleasant Hill's drinking water received a grade of B (75.1 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,004 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 2.6 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 28 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 Pleasant Hill's water

Pleasant Hill ranks #673 out of 891 cities in Illinois for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state.

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

The system has seen 23 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
75.1 out of 100 Grade B
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
28.1/45
C
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 2.6 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: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Pleasant Hill, IL water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Pleasant Hill's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B (75.1/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,004 residents using groundwater (wells).

6
Active Violations
2.6 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
10 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Pleasant Hill

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

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Pleasant Hill's water quality assessment. Grade: B (75.1/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Revised Total Coliform Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Chlorine.

Violation
15 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB), HEXACHLOROBENZENE, Chlordane.

Disaster
SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4461). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Disaster
SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4116). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Key contaminant findings

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

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 2.6 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Pleasant Hill's water system has 28 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 6 remain unresolved. 23 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MONMROther
Most recent violations:
Sep 2023 Revised Total Coliform Rule Resolved
Jul 2023 Chlorine Resolved
Jan 2023 Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Resolved
Jan 2023 HEXACHLOROBENZENE Resolved
Jan 2023 Chlordane Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Pike County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1969. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-4461
SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-4116
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA DR-3230

Where does Pleasant Hill's water come from?

Pleasant Hill's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,004 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Pleasant Hill residents can do

Install a water filter

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

Monitor alerts during storms

Pleasant Hill's area has a history of flooding. After severe weather, watch for boil water advisories from your local utility.

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
2.6 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 17% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

28
Total violations
0
Health-based
6
Active / unresolved
Sep 2023
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

28 Total
6 Active
0 Health-based
22 Resolved
Violations by category
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
15
Revised Total Coliform Rule
3
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
3
Lead and Copper Rule
2
Public Notice Rule and Revised PN Rule
2
Oct 2022 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2022 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jan 2022 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Jan 2022 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Dec 2019 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Sep 2023 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring
Monitoring Resolved Sep 2023
Jul 2023 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Sep 2023
Jan 2023 Resolved
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
HEXACHLOROBENZENE
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Chlordane
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Endrin
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Heptachlor epoxide
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Methoxychlor
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
LASSO
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Atrazine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Heptachlor
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Showing 20 of 28 violations
Industrial pollution

Top industrial polluters within 10 miles of Pleasant Hill

Industrial polluters nearby

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

Total reported releases to surface water: 43,421 lbs

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)Distance
DYNO NOBEL INC.--LOMO PLANT
Chemicals · DYNO NOBEL INC
LOUISIANA, MO63353
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)43,4218.6 mi

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

10
Declared disasters
Sep 2019
Most recent
Flood
Most common type

Pike County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1969. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2019
SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA #4461
May 2013
SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA #4116
Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA #3230
May 2001
FLOODING
Flood FEMA #1368
Jul 1993
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #997
Mar 1985
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #735

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 2.6 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 increased by 2.6 ppb from 1993 (0.0 ppb) to 2025 (2.6 ppb).
Contaminant Rankings

See how Pleasant Hill compares by contaminant

Explore where Pleasant Hill ranks among all Illinois cities for specific contaminants.

Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,004
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Pleasant Hill's water comes from

Groundwater

Pleasant Hill'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 1,004 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Pleasant Hill

System Name PWSID Population Source
PLEASANT HILL IL1490800 1,004 GW
Regional Comparison

How Pleasant Hill compares

Full Illinois rankings →

Pleasant Hill's score of 75.1/100 is above the average of 56/100 among major Illinois cities. It outscores 7 of 10 nearby cities.

Pleasant Hill (this city)
75.1
Chicago
35.2
Aurora
45.5
Joliet
38.5
Naperville
81.2
Champaign
91.9
Illinois avg
56
City Profile

About Pleasant Hill, IL

Economic Profile
$50,179
Median Income
$69,337
Median Home Value
$659/mo
Median Rent
6.5%
Unemployment
Community
30.2
Median Age
458
People / sq mi
17.2%
College Educated
71.9%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Pleasant Hill, IL tap water safe to drink?

Pleasant Hill's water quality earned a grade of B (75.1/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #673 out of 891 cities tested in Illinois.

What contaminants are in Pleasant Hill's water?

Lead was measured at 2.6 ppb (90th percentile). 28 violations are on record.

How is Pleasant Hill'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 Pleasant Hill?

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

Where does Pleasant Hill's water come from?

Pleasant Hill's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,004 residents.

Is Pleasant Hill's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Pleasant Hill 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 28 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 Pleasant Hill's water compare to other cities?

Pleasant Hill ranks #673 out of 891 cities in Illinois (better than 24% of state cities) and #9674 out of 15744 cities nationally (39th percentile). The grade of B reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Pleasant Hill's small water system affect quality?

Pleasant Hill's system serves approximately 1,004 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 28 violations on record.