Every year, Illinois American Water publishes a Consumer Confidence Report covering Peoria's municipal water supply. The report meets federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements and, on paper, shows that treated water leaving the facility is within legal limits for regulated contaminants. But there are a few things the report does not tell you — and that is where most Peoria homeowners have questions.
The annual Consumer Confidence Report tests for dozens of contaminants at the point where water leaves the treatment facility. In recent reports for the Peoria district, levels of lead, nitrates, and disinfection byproducts have tested within the maximum contaminant levels set by the EPA. That is the good news.
The report also acknowledges that Peoria draws from the Illinois River and from groundwater sources that pass through limestone and agricultural land — two factors that affect mineral content and potential contamination risk.
Water quality at the treatment plant and water quality at your kitchen tap are not the same thing. Between the facility and your faucet, water travels through miles of distribution lines, some of which were installed before 1986 when lead solder and lead-lined pipes were common practice.
Illinois American Water identified distribution infrastructure in the Peoria district that may contribute lead at the point of use. Older homes in neighborhoods like Averyville, Taft Homes, and Harrison Homes corridors are more likely to have this concern, though the risk is not exclusive to those areas.
The only way to know your home's specific water quality is to test the water at your tap — not at the treatment plant.
Many Peoria residents notice a chlorine taste or mild odor in their tap water. This is normal — Illinois American Water uses chlorine and chloramine to disinfect water during treatment, and trace amounts remain in the water as it travels to your home. While these disinfectants are safe at regulated concentrations, the taste bothers many people. A carbon filter at your tap or a whole-house activated carbon unit removes chlorine and chloramine completely, without affecting anything else.
Peoria sits above limestone aquifer deposits, and Central Illinois groundwater picks up significant calcium and magnesium as it passes through rock. The result is hard water — typically measured at 15 to 22 grains per gallon in the Peoria area, depending on the specific source. Hard water is not a health risk, but it causes visible problems: scale on faucets and showerheads, reduced soap lathering, shortened water heater life, and spots on dishes and glassware.
Peoria County and the surrounding region is prime Illinois farmland. Nitrates from fertilizer can enter groundwater and surface water, particularly after heavy spring rain events. Municipal water in Peoria is tested regularly for nitrates, and levels have stayed within legal limits in recent reporting periods. However, homes with private wells in rural areas around Peoria face higher exposure risk and should test more frequently.
We test at your tap — not at the plant — to show you exactly what is in the water you are actually drinking. No charge, no obligation.
Call 309-281-3340The most useful first step is a free in-home water test. Testing at your tap tells you the actual lead level, hardness, pH, chlorine presence, and other contaminants specific to your home's plumbing. From there, you can make an informed decision about whether a carbon filter, water softener, reverse osmosis system, or some combination makes sense for your situation.
Most Peoria homeowners benefit from at least a point-of-use carbon filter for taste and odor. Homes with older plumbing or visible hard water deposits typically benefit from a softener as well. We always test before recommending.
Serving Peoria, East Peoria, Morton, Dunlap & surrounding areas.
Call 309-201-4181