Illinois notifies 47 water systems of PFAS violations, triggers right-to-know requirements
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (UI) — The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has notified 47 community water systems that they must inform the public about detected levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that exceed newly adopted groundwater standards. The notifications, issued under state Right-to-Know laws, follow the April 11 publication of updated groundwater quality rules in the Illinois Register.
Of the 47 systems, 21 are primary suppliers where PFAS levels exceeded thresholds. The remaining 26 are connected satellite systems that receive water from those primary systems. Together, the affected systems serve nearly 440,000 people.
PFAS — often referred to as “forever chemicals” — are synthetic compounds widely used since the 1940s for their resistance to water and oil. They persist in the environment and have been linked to health risks. Detected compounds above the state’s new standards include PFOA and PFOS (both at 4 parts per trillion) and PFHxS (10 ppt).
“While this notification includes only a small percentage of Illinois CWSs, other communities and residents may be at risk from PFAS exposure,” Illinois EPA stated. The agency urged all residents and private well owners to take proactive steps to reduce exposure, such as using certified PFAS water filters and avoiding consumer products that contain PFAS ingredients.
State law requires affected water systems to notify all users within five business days of receiving the notice, using mail, email, text, or phone. Proof of notification must be submitted to Illinois EPA within seven days.
The updates to Illinois’ groundwater standards align with recent federal action. The U.S. EPA recently finalized national maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for several PFAS compounds. Systems must comply with the new federal rules by April 2029.
Additional PFAS sampling across the state is ongoing through the federal Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), with data publicly available via EPA dashboards.
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