Is Joliet tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Joliet's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

79/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
8.5 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in Joliet

Moderately Hard Water (8.5 GPG)

Hardness above 7 GPG can cause minor scale buildup.

Hardness data for Joliet

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Joliet

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.3 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Joliet
Illinois

604,316,043,260,433 · Lake Michigan

Joliet, IL Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 147,433 residents
79
Purity Score

Health Insights

  • 1
    At 8.5 GPG, Joliet's water qualifies as moderately hard. This can cause limescale in pipes and shorten appliance lifespan.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Joliet's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

79 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Joliet tap water is sourced from Lake Michigan and treated by City of Joliet Water. Water hardness is hard at 8.5 GPG which may cause scale buildup. Overall purity score: 79/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

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Joliet Water FAQ

Is Joliet IL tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Joliet tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 79/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Joliet IL use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Joliet uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.6 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Joliet IL water and what is the TDS level?
Joliet water hardness is 8.5 grains per gallon (hard) with a TDS of 215 ppm (fair). This level causes noticeable scale buildup in water heaters kettles and dishwashers. A water softener is recommended to protect plumbing and reduce soap usage.
Has PFAS been found in Joliet IL drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Joliet drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Joliet?
Based on Joliet's water profile, we recommend the AFWFilters 5600sxt 48000 Grain Softener. Joliet has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • City of Joliet Water CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

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