Is Wilmette, 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 Wilmette Water System.
Wilmette Water System supplies Wilmette (27,650 people).
Water system
Wilmette Water System
27,650 people · Surface water · EPA ID IL0313300
Buys treated water from Evanston Water System, Winnetka 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: 6 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.
Wilmette homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Wilmette village (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Evanston 3 mi Evanston Water System | None above limits | 6.5 ppb |
| Skokie 3 mi Skokie Water System | None above limits | 9.77 ppb |
| Glenview 5 mi Glenview Water System | None above limits | 10 ppb |
| Niles 5 mi Aqua Illinois-North Maine Utilities | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Northbrook 7 mi Northbrook Water System | None above limits | 11 ppb |
| Park Ridge 7 mi Park Ridge Water System | None above limits | 6.79 ppb |
Wilmette ZIP codes (1)
- 60091
Questions
Is Wilmette tap water safe to drink?
Wilmette 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 Wilmette, IL?
Wilmette Water System, which serves 27,650 people.
Does Wilmette tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Wilmette Water System had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Wilmette homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 81% of Wilmette 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. Wilmette 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.