WaterVerge

Is Savanna, IL Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded B+, with 5 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

3K residents served 1 water system PWSID: IL0150250
Overall Score
82.9 / 100
Violations
5 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#468 of 891 in Illinois Top 43% nationally
Local Government
High data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
B+GRADE
Water Quality Grade
82.9/100
waterverge.com
B+ 82.9/100

Savanna, IL — Water Quality Report

Savanna's drinking water received a grade of B+ (82.9 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 3,020 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 2.5 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 6 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 5 remain unresolved.

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

What to know about Savanna's water

Savanna ranks #468 out of 891 cities in Illinois for water quality, placing it below average in the state.

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

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
82.9 out of 100 Grade B+
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
40.9/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 2.5 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
0/10
F
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Savanna, IL water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Savanna's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B+ (82.9/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 3,020 residents using groundwater (wells).

5
Active Violations
2.5 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
8 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Savanna

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

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Savanna's water quality assessment. Grade: B+ (82.9/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Lead and Copper Rule.

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 Savanna's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 2.5 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

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

RPTOtherMR
Most recent violations:
Jul 2025 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS Open
Jul 2023 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Dec 2020 Lead and Copper Rule Open
Jul 2015 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Jun 1977 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Carroll County has experienced 8 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 Savanna's water come from?

Savanna's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 3,020 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Savanna residents can do

Install a water filter

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

Savanna'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
2.5 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 17% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

6
Total violations
0
Health-based
5
Active / unresolved
Jul 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

6 Total
5 Active
0 Health-based
1 Resolved
Violations by category
Consumer Confidence Rule
2
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
1
Lead and Copper Rule
1
Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule
1
Jul 2025 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Reporting
Reporting 0
Jul 2023 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Dec 2020 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2015 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
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 Savanna

Industrial polluters nearby

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

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)Distance
METFORM LLC
Fabricated Metals · MACLEAN-FOGG CO
MOUNT CARROLL, IL61053
8.4 mi
ELKAY PLUMBING PRODUCTS CO
Machinery · ZURN ELKAY WATER SOLUTIONS CORP
SAVANNA, IL61074
1.5 mi
METFORM CORP EXTRUSION SCIENCE PRODUCTS
Fabricated Metals · MACLEAN-FOGG CO
SAVANNA, IL61074
1.4 mi
METFORM L.L.C. HOT FORMED PRODUCTS PLANT
Fabricated Metals · MACLEAN-FOGG CO
SAVANNA, IL61074
4.5 mi
POWERLAB INC
Chemicals · POWERLAB INC
SAVANNA, IL61074
2.7 mi

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

8
Declared disasters
Sep 2019
Most recent
Flood
Most common type

Carroll County has experienced 8 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
Jun 1974
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #438

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 2.5 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 9.0 ppb from 1992 (9.0 ppb) to 2025 (0.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
3,020
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Savanna's water comes from

Groundwater

Savanna'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 3,020 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Savanna

System Name PWSID Population Source
SAVANNA IL0150250 3,020 GW
Regional Comparison

How Savanna compares

Full Illinois rankings →

Savanna's score of 82.9/100 is above the average of 56/100 among major Illinois cities. It outscores 8 of 10 nearby cities.

Savanna (this city)
82.9
Chicago
35.2
Aurora
45.5
Joliet
38.5
Naperville
81.2
Champaign
91.9
Illinois avg
56
City Profile

About Savanna, IL

Wikipedia →

Savanna is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,783 at the 2020 census. Savanna is located along the Mississippi River at the mouth of the Plum River.

Economic Profile
$45,474
Median Income
$63,248
Median Home Value
$726/mo
Median Rent
6.1%
Unemployment
Community
47.3
Median Age
411
People / sq mi
13.3%
College Educated
55.3%
Homeownership
Share this reportHelp others learn about their water quality
WhatsAppXFacebookLinkedInEmail

Frequently asked questions

Is Savanna, IL tap water safe to drink?

Savanna's water quality earned a grade of B+ (82.9/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #468 out of 891 cities tested in Illinois.

What contaminants are in Savanna's water?

Lead was measured at 2.5 ppb (90th percentile). 6 violations are on record.

How is Savanna'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 Savanna?

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

Where does Savanna's water come from?

Savanna's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 3,020 residents.

Is Savanna's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Savanna 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 6 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 Savanna's water compare to other cities?

Savanna ranks #468 out of 891 cities in Illinois (better than 47% of state cities) and #6691 out of 15744 cities nationally (58th percentile). The grade of B+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Savanna's small water system affect quality?

Savanna's system serves approximately 3,020 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 6 violations on record.