Lead was detected in Champaign tap water.The reported 90th-percentile result was 1 µg/L, compared with the federal action level of 15 µg/L. That is below the level that triggers action, but the health goal is zero and home plumbing can add more.
Not on record: this system’s lead service line inventory is not in EPA’s published data, so whether a home has a lead line is not known here. Ask IL AMERICAN-CHAMPAIGN.
How Champaign compares2,738 cities detected lead; 1,407 more were below the reporting limit and aren’t plotted. A position here is not a verdict on the water.
Lower than 78% of 2,738 cities with a detected value
Champaign 115 action level
01530+ µg/L
What this means: Champaign’s result is below the federal action level. It is a citywide figure; plumbing in an individual home can differ.
City water is not your tap
Plumbing inside a home can add lead the record can’t show.
The city report tells you about the water system. A tap test tells you about your household.
We may earn a commissionPurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure
Reverse osmosisiSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemiSpring · It treats only the water from its own faucet and sends part of the water to the drain; the NSF listing for the plain RCC7AK covers dissolved solids, not lead or PFAS.Use code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order.
Reverse osmosisiSpring RO5004F Tankless Reverse Osmosis System with UViSpring · Its PFAS and lead reduction claims are iSpring's own, with no third-party certification named for this model, and it treats only the water at its own faucet.Use code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order.
Reverse osmosisWaterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis SystemWaterdrop · Its IAPMO NSF/ANSI 58 certification covers TDS reduction only, so its PFAS and lead claims rest on Waterdrop's own SGS lab testing.
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Filters for the lead found in Champaign water
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Whole-houseiSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilteriSpring · It does not reduce total dissolved solids or soften hard water, and its PFAS result comes from SGS lab testing rather than an NSF/ANSI certification.Use code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order.
PurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Don’t misread thisA city-wide result does not tell you your tap result
A reported city-wide lead concentration is not a measurement of the water coming from every household tap. Lead can enter water through service lines, faucets, fixtures and plumbing materials. “Champaign reported 1 µg/L” does not mean your water has 1 µg/L.
IL AMERICAN-CHAMPAIGN's most recent lead 90th-percentile result (2026) was 1 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level. It comes from sampled homes; your own pipes decide what reaches your tap.
How much lead was detected in Champaign water?+
1 µg/L at the 90th percentile of the homes IL AMERICAN-CHAMPAIGN sampled under the Lead and Copper Rule (2026).
Is Champaign's lead level below the legal limit?+
It is below the 15 µg/L federal action level. Lead has no MCL: the action level is a treatment trigger, and EPA's health goal for lead is zero.
Can my home have more lead than the city report shows?+
Yes. Lead usually enters water from service lines, solder and fixtures between the main and your tap, so one home can measure higher than the citywide figure. Only a test of your own tap shows it.
How do I know if my home has a lead service line?+
Ask IL AMERICAN-CHAMPAIGN whether your address appears in its service line inventory, which utilities must publish. You can also look where the water pipe enters your home: lead pipe is dull grey, soft, and shows shiny metal when scratched gently.
How do I test my Champaign tap water?+
Use a state-certified lab for an exact number, or a screening kit for a quick range. For lead, take a first-draw sample: water that has sat in the pipes for at least six hours.
What filter removes lead from Champaign water?+
One whose current certification names lead for the exact model: NSF/ANSI 53 (carbon) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis). Until then, run the cold tap for a few minutes after water has sat for hours, and use only cold water for drinking and cooking.
What certification should I look for in a lead filter?+
NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 with lead listed for the exact model, checked in the certifier's listing (NSF, WQA or IAPMO).
Should I replace my lead service line?+
If your home has one, replacing it removes the main source of lead. Ask IL AMERICAN-CHAMPAIGN first; many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost.