Safe
Illinois, United States
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Chicago?
Yes, tap water in Chicago is safe to drink. It's drawn from Lake Michigan and meets all EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards, though the city has more lead service lines than anywhere else in the U.S.
Hardness
Moderately hard
pH
7.5–8.0
TDS
ranges 150–200 ppm
EPA Status
Compliant
Water Source
Chicago draws from Lake Michigan and treats it at two of the largest water filtration plants in the world (the Jardine plant alone can process 1 billion gallons a day), operated by the Chicago Department of Water Management.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •Lead from household service lines — Chicago has an estimated 400,000 lead service lines citywide, more than any other U.S. city, and is under a state-mandated replacement program
- •Disinfection byproducts (trace chlorine-related compounds) are monitored and kept within EPA limits
How It Compares
The lake water itself tests very clean at the treatment plant; nearly all lead risk comes from older service lines and household plumbing built before the 1986 lead ban, not the treated water leaving the plant.
Tips
- •The city offers free lead testing kits for residents concerned about older plumbing
- •Running the cold tap for 30–60 seconds flushes standing water from older lines
- •A certified lead-reduction filter is a reasonable extra precaution in pre-1986 buildings