The Village of Glencoe maintains a safe, high-quality drinking water system. As a public water utility, the Village is subject to rigorous, routine testing and monitoring to ensure our water complies with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety requirements. The Village publishes its annual water quality testing report online to provide detailed public information about the Village’s drinking water and its compliance with safety standards.
The Village’s water distribution system does not contain any lead pipe or material. Even without lead material in the water distribution system, it is possible for lead to enter drinking water in a home or business, typically through private lead service lines (which connect a home or business to the Village’s water mains), lead plumbing material (such as fixtures or pipes) inside a home or business, or copper service lines with lead solder joints. Though federal legislation and changes to the plumbing code have restricted the use of new lead plumbing materials, some may remain in older homes and buildings.
The number of homes with lead service lines in the Village has decreased over the past 20 years, but the Village estimates that there are still approximately 650 properties within the Village that have lead services. Water services are maintained by the property owner, and property owners may choose to replace an existing lead service with copper piping, which is a safer alternative to lead. To assist residents with replacing lead services, the Village waives the permit fee for water service line replacement. Furthermore, the Village proactively takes steps to reduce the potential of lead entering customers’ water from lead plumbing material through the use of phosphate, a corrosion control treatment chemical.
In summer 2021, the Village completed Lead and Copper Rule testing, which is required by the federal government to take place every three years. We are pleased to report that the Glencoe water system remains in compliance with the regulation. Only one sample was above the Federal Action Level of 15 parts per billion for lead, and all samples collected were below 1.3 parts per million for copper.
Lead in water is a major concern for pregnant women, infants and young children. It is important to remember that lead is not in the source water but can enter the water through your home’s lead service line (the underground pipe that connects your home to the water main in the street) or household plumbing that contains lead, so your home could have higher levels than what was found during our testing. If your home was built after 1950, you will not have a lead service line. Recent research shows that the largest contributor to lead levels in private property water samples is a lead service line, but other sources in the premise’s plumbing, such as lead-soldered copper pipes (prior to 1986 lead ban), brass fixtures and even scale build-up in old steel pipes that were or are supplied by a lead service can contribute to the presence of lead levels as well. Lead service line repairs or replacement of in-home plumbing work can temporarily, but significantly, increase lead levels.
The only way to confirm that your water has any lead in it is to have it tested. Local laboratories can provide this service through the mail. If you want to learn about how to get your water tested, what the Village is doing to help reduce lead at the tap, and what you can do to reduce lead exposure in your home, please contact the Water Plant at (847) 835-4183 or send an email to
aurbanczyk@villageofglencoe.org.
The Village of Glencoe annually provides residents with a Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report. Please take some time to read and understand what the report says. Under federal and state regulations, the Village’s Water division tests hundreds of water quality samples each month. The results for 2023 are excellent. The Glencoe Water Utility once again met every standard for over 100 contaminants tested for each year. Ongoing capital improvements at the water plant and in the distribution system help ensure safe and reliable drinking water. See the annual Consumer Confidence Reports below.
