Cicero Water Quality Summary
Cicero supplies drinking water to about 83,000 people in Cicero, Illinois, and draws from surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs), which requires fuller treatment for runoff, sediment, and microbial risk. On the IsWaterSafe scale it earns a fair Water Safety Score of 70 out of 100 (Grade C), a composite of its EPA SDWIS violation and contaminant record.
EPA records show 1 health-based violation for this system. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its legal EPA limit, the most serious category in the Safe Drinking Water Act. The system has 29 enforcement actions on file in response.
Across the 4 substances sampled, none exceeded its EPA limit. Combined Radium sits highest relative to its ceiling, detected at 2.5 pCi/L against an MCL of 5 pCi/L (sampled January 2016) — within the legal limit.
The most pressing open issue is a reporting violation involving E. coli (RTCR), beginning February 2023 and still open in EPA records.
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Detected Contaminants
| Contaminant | Detected Level | MCL (Limit) | Status | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Radium | 2.5 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Within Limit | Jan 1, 2016 |
| Total Coliform | 2.5 % positive | 5 % positive | Within Limit | Mar 1, 2016 |
| Combined Filter Effluent | 0.5 NTU | 1 NTU | Within Limit | Jan 1, 2017 |
| E. coli (RTCR) | 0 presence | 0 presence | Within Limit | Feb 19, 2023 |
Violation History
Frequently Asked Questions
Cicero has a Water Safety Score of C (70/100). The system serves 83,000 people and has 1 health violation on record. Check the contaminant table above for specific detected substances.
Cicero has 0 contaminant exceedances above EPA health guidelines. See the full contaminant detection table above for all tested substances and their levels relative to legal limits and health guidelines.
The Water Safety Score (0-100, grades A through F) is based on contaminant levels relative to legal limits, health guideline exceedances, violation history, and enforcement actions. Higher scores indicate fewer concerns.
If your water system has violations, request the Consumer Confidence Report from your utility, consider getting an independent water test from a certified lab, and look into certified water filters for specific contaminants of concern. For lead, run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking.
Water quality data sourced from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Safety scores are calculated based on contaminant levels, violations, and enforcement history. This is not a substitute for your utility's official Consumer Confidence Report.
Source: EPA Ground Water and Drinking Water, 2026.