Is Rock Island, IL tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Rock Island Water System. 1 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Rock Island Water System supplies Rock Island (39,018 people).
Water system
Rock Island Water System
39,018 people · Surface water · EPA ID IL1610650
Buys treated water from Moline Water System.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Illinois, 13 of 479 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 18 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Illinois results.
Rock Island homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Rock Island city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Moline 5 mi Moline Water System | None above limits | 1.3 ppb |
| Galesburg 37 mi Galesburg Water System | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Peoria 70 mi Illinois American Water – Peoria | Above limit | 11 ppb |
| Pekin 80 mi Illinois American Water – Pekin | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Rockford 96 mi Rockford Water System | None above limits | 10 ppb |
| DeKalb 100 mi DeKalb Water System | None above limits | 13 ppb |
Rock Island ZIP codes (1)
- 61201
Questions
Is Rock Island tap water safe to drink?
Rock Island Water System has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Rock Island, IL?
Rock Island Water System, which serves 39,018 people.
Does Rock Island tap water have PFAS?
Rock Island Water System had 1 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Rock Island homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 84% of Rock Island homes as built before 1980 (Illinois: 64%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Rock Island Water System's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.