Ottawa

PWSID: IL0990800

1 active violation (non-health-based)
This system has unresolved violations related to monitoring, reporting, or procedural requirements, but none involve contaminant levels exceeding EPA health limits.

This system has more violations on record than 98% of water systems in Illinois.

Violation trend: 9.0 per year over the last 5 years, down from 34.8 per year in the previous 5.

System Details

Population Served18,097
Service Connections8,049
Water SourceGroundwater
System TypeCommunity Water System
OwnerLocal Government
StatusActive
CityOttawa
EPA ZIP on File61350

Areas Served

  • Ottawa, Lasalle County

Lead & Copper Testing

ContaminantLevelEPA Action LevelStatus
Lead (90th percentile)0.0178 mg/L0.015 mg/LExceeds Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0097 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0091 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0075 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0067 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0062 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0061 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0050 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0021 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0000 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level
Lead (90th percentile)0.0000 mg/L0.015 mg/LBelow Action Level

1 Active Violations

ContaminantViolationDateHealth-BasedStatus
5200RPT2025-07-02Open

Violation History (222 total)

ContaminantViolationDateHealth-BasedStatus
4010MCL
Measured: 8.00 PCI/L (limit: 5.00 PCI/L)
2023-07-01YesReturned to Compliance
4010MCL
Measured: 8.00 PCI/L (limit: 5.00 PCI/L)
2023-07-01YesReturned to Compliance
4010MCL
Measured: 8.00 PCI/L (limit: 5.00 PCI/L)
2023-07-01YesAcknowledged
4010MCL
Measured: 8.00 PCI/L (limit: 5.00 PCI/L)
2023-07-01YesReturned to Compliance
4010MCL
Measured: 8.00 PCI/L (limit: 5.00 PCI/L)
2023-07-01YesReturned to Compliance
4010MCL
Measured: 8.00 PCI/L (limit: 5.00 PCI/L)
2023-07-01YesReturned to Compliance
2950MR2023-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2950MR2023-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2950MR2023-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2950MR2023-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2950MR2023-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2950MR2023-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2456MR2023-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2456MR2023-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2456MR2023-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2456MR2023-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2456MR2023-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2456MR2023-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
4010MR2022-10-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4010MR2022-10-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4010MR2022-10-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4010MR2022-10-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4109MR2022-10-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4109MR2022-10-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4109MR2022-10-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4109MR2022-10-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4010MR2022-07-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4010MR2022-07-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4010MR2022-07-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4109MR2022-07-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4109MR2022-07-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
4109MR2022-07-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2950MR2022-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2950MR2022-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2950MR2022-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2950MR2022-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2950MR2022-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2950MR2022-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2456MR2022-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2456MR2022-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2456MR2022-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2456MR2022-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2456MR2022-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2456MR2022-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2976MR2020-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2976MR2020-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2976MR2020-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2976MR2020-01-01 MajorAcknowledged
2981MR2020-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance
2981MR2020-01-01 MajorReturned to Compliance

Showing 50 of 221 historical violations.

Understanding This Water System's Record

Ottawa is a community water system water system that draws from groundwater sources and serves a population of 18,097 in Ottawa, Illinois. This page shows its complete compliance history as reported to the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), the federal database that tracks every public water system in the United States.

What Do These Violations Mean?

Health-based violations mean the system exceeded an EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) or failed to provide required treatment. These indicate potential health risks from contaminants like lead, arsenic, bacteria, nitrates, or disinfection byproducts. Non-health-based violations involve monitoring, reporting, or procedural requirements — the system missed a testing deadline or failed to notify customers, but contaminant levels were not necessarily unsafe.

What Should You Do?

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) that details test results and any violations. If your system has active health-based violations, consider a certified water filter rated for the specific contaminants involved. The contaminant guides on this site explain health risks and filter options for common pollutants. For the most current results, contact your water utility directly — EPA data can lag weeks or months behind real-time testing.