Well & TapHome Water Treatment Database

Is there PFAS in Crest Hill water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Crest Hill averaged 12.4 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 3.1 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

Crest Hill Serves 21,169 people · 14 PFOA samples from 7 sampling points · Jun 2023 to Dec 2023 Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid 12.4 ppt avg · max 13.7
EPA 4
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid not detected
EPA 4
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid 11.1 ppt avg · max 12.2
EPA 10
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined 1.1 avg · max 1.2
EPA 1

Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFPeA, PFBA, PFHxA, PFHpA.

Averages are for the worst sampling point, with non-detects counted as zero. Source: EPA UCMR 5.

Crest Hill is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Crest Hill, Illinois, serving about 21,169 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 14 times across 7 sampling points between Jun 2023 and Dec 2023.

Every PFAS detected

PFAS Detected Highest Worst point avg EPA limit
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid		 14 of 14 52.1 ppt 40.3 ppt none
PFPeA
Perfluoropentanoic acid		 12 of 14 32.2 ppt 24.6 ppt none
PFBA
Perfluorobutanoic acid		 10 of 14 27.2 ppt 21.1 ppt none
PFHxA
Perfluorohexanoic acid		 11 of 14 24.4 ppt 18.7 ppt none
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid		 6 of 14 13.7 ppt 12.4 ppt 4 ppt
PFHpA
Perfluoroheptanoic acid		 6 of 14 13.3 ppt 11.6 ppt none
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid		 9 of 14 12.2 ppt 11.1 ppt 10 ppt

Not detected: 4:2 FTS, PFEESA, 8:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFMBA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFHpS, NMeFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFTA, 6:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, NEtFOSAA, PFNA, ADONA, PFOS, PFDA, PFDoA, PFUnA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, HFPO-DA.

Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 34.8 ppb, detected in 14 of 14 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.

What the EPA limits mean here

In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.

Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.

What you can do at home

Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.

Other systems in Illinois

All 487 tested systems in Illinois

ZIP codes served

60403

As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.

Cite this page

Well & Tap. "PFAS in Crest Hill water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID IL1970250. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/illinois/crest-hill/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID IL1970250). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.