2025 Water Quality Report
Please click here to view the current Water Quality Report for the City of Galesburg.
2025/2026 PFAS Notification
Quick Reference Facts:
- In January 2026, Illinois updated its drinking water rules to match federal limits set by the U.S. EPA for certain PFAS compounds.
- Public water systems were required to begin sampling for PFAS in April 2026 and comply with maximum contaminant levels for PFAS by April 2029.The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for the PFAS compounds vary from 4 ppt to 10 ppt.
- PFOA & PFOS = 4.0 ppt MCL
- PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA = 10 ppt MCL
- IEPA notification letters were mailed to all City of Galesburg water customers in April 2025 and September 2026.
- The April 2025 letter reported PFOA levels of 5.9 ppt in finished water, exceeding the established level of 4 ppt.
- The September 2026 letter reported PFOS with maximum levels detected at 15 ppt in raw, unfinished water at the well source in three of six active wells, not the finished water delivered to homes.
- The three wells that exceed MCLs for PFOS are not currently utilized. It is planned to retire the two wells that tested at 15 ppt in 2027, with the third well, which tested at 4.7 ppt, used only on an emergency basis.
- The finished water delivered to homes meets the standard for PFOS (4 ppt or lower). PFOA remains at 5.9 ppt, unchanged from 2025 reporting.
- The City is in the design phase for two new wells that have tested PFAS free.
- The City expects to achieve compliance with the MCL of 4 ppt or under for all PFAS compounds well in advance of the April 2029 deadline.
Overview
Following requirements from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), the City of Galesburg sent notification letters in April 2025 and September 2026 to all water customers regarding the detection of PFOA and PFOS in Galesburg’s wells. This notification is a direct result of new regulations adopted by the State of Illinois, aligning with a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final rule. This new rule establishes Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) – the maximum allowable amounts – for six types of PFAS chemicals found in drinking water.
Galesburg’s water currently exceeds only one of these levels in its finished drinking water: PFOA. The current PFOA level in Galesburg’s water is 5.9 parts per trillion (ppt), which is above the newly established MCL of 4 ppt.
Notices mailed in September 2026, shifted to reflect levels detected in raw unfinished water. Due to this, the September 2026 notice indicates Galesburg’s water exceeds the level for PFOS in its raw unfinished water from three of its six active wells, with maximum levels detected at 15 ppt. The three wells that exceed PFOS levels are not currently utilized, and it is planned to retire two of those wells in 2027, with the third well being used only on an emergency basis. Galesburg’s finished water currently does not exceed the established MCL of 4 ppt for PFOS.
In relation to both notices, it is important to note that Galesburg’s water is not in violation of EPA standards. Because this is a newly regulated contaminant, the EPA has provided community water systems until April 26, 2029, to meet the new standard.
What are PFAS Chemicals?
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of manmade chemicals used widely since the 1940s in various products, including food packaging and grease or stain-resistant products. Studies suggest that prolonged exposure to high levels of certain PFAS may lead to adverse health effects. Although some PFAS have been phased out due to environmental and health concerns, they persist in the environment and can contaminate surface and groundwater.
Drinking water systems are passive receivers of PFOA and PFOS. Drinking water systems often receive PFAS contamination from external sources that pollute the rivers, lakes, or groundwater they rely on. This contamination is frequently linked to areas near facilities where PFAS were manufactured or used.
The IEPA recommends several ways to reduce PFAS exposure:
- Choose stainless steel, cast iron or non-stick cookware that does not contain PFAS.
- Avoid water repellents on clothing.
- Use personal care products without “PTFE” or “Fluoro” ingredients.
- Use water filters designed to remove PFAS, meeting NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 standards.
What is the City of Galesburg doing?
While the drinking water is not in violation of EPA standards, the City of Galesburg takes the newly established MCLs very seriously and has been proactively working towards solutions since draft guidance was initially provided by the EPA in 2021. This includes quarterly monitoring and reporting of all raw and finished water sources for PFAS. Through this method, the City has identified the wells with the lowest and highest concentrations of PFAS, and maximized production of the wells with the lowest PFAS while simultaneously reducing or eliminating the wells with higher PFAS levels. This strategy has significantly reduced the PFOA level and reduced the PFOS level below the proposed MCL for PFOS. However, this is just one component of the multi-pronged strategy, addressing the need to quickly and efficiently reduce the levels through our current resources while simultaneously evaluating the long-term solutions.
A pilot study was conducted in 2021 – 2022, which provided insights into current conditions and potential long-term solutions. Implementation of the long-term solutions is underway. Test wells were drilled at the Oquawka water treatment plant during Spring-Summer 2025 to evaluate all available options around the water treatment plant. Testing was completed in the Spring of 2026, and it was determined that there is a viable site near the treatment plant with no detectable PFAS compounds. The city is currently in the design phase for two new wells that will allow Galesburg’s finished drinking water to be below the MCL of 4 ppt for regulated PFAS chemicals. It is anticipated that these new wells will be constructed in 2027 and put into production by late 2027 or early 2028. Alongside exploring water sources, the city is evaluating water treatment technologies that can effectively remove PFAS.
Addressing PFAS contamination is a complex, long-term undertaking. The EPA’s compliance deadlines (2029) reflect this reality. However, the City of Galesburg is committed to overcoming this challenge and expects to meet or exceed the required deadline. The initial, proactive work has positioned the city well, and ongoing plans set the city on a positive path for achieving compliance.
Resources
The 2025 and 2026 PFAS testing notices and helpful facts sheets directly from the EPA are provided in the document center and linked below. These resources include more details about PFAS, answers to common questions, and information on home water filters.
EPA PFAS Overview
The City is committed to transparency and providing residents with the highest quality drinking water. For additional questions or clarification of the resources provided, please contact Aaron Gavin, Director of Public Works, at 309-345-3623.
***Courtesy of the City of Galesburg***
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is notifying the owners and operators of the Galesburg Community Water System (CWS), Abingdon CWS, East Galesburg CWS, Henderson CWS, Knoxville CWS, Windwood Water CWS and Little York CWS that there has been a detection of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) compound, in water samples collected by the Galesburg CWS, as part of the PFAS Initial Monitoring Period, which began in April 2026. The Abingdon, East Galesburg, Henderson, Knoxville, Windwood Water, and Little York CWS purchase water from the Galesburg CWS. All of the systems are in Knox County except Little York, which is in Warren County. The samples identified PFOS at 15 and 4.7 parts per trillion (ppt), which is above the Illinois Class I groundwater quality standard of 4 ppt. In April of 2025, these seven systems were also notified of a detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
“Illinois EPA was proactive in our efforts to address PFAS contamination in Illinois community water systems, which resulted in the adoption of state groundwater quality and drinking water standards among the most protective in the nation,” said Illinois EPA Director James Jennings. “This notification both satisfies state law and serves as a reminder to all residents to reduce exposure to PFAS compounds, which can be found in everyday products and the environment.”
The 2009 Right-to-Know law requires owners and operators of CWSs to notify their customers when groundwater contamination poses a threat of exposure to the public above the Class I groundwater quality standards. In 2025, Illinois adopted new groundwater quality standards for six PFAS, based on the most recent scientific information available. Those include PFOA, PFOS, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid, also known as GenX (HFPO-DA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), pefluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS).
In January 2026, Illinois also adopted amendments to Illinois drinking water regulations that are identical in substance to science-based Biden-era U.S. EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs/federal drinking water standards) for certain PFAS. CWSs were required to begin sampling for those PFAS in April 2026 and must comply with the federal MCLs for PFAS by April 2029.
PFAS have been used in a wide range of consumer products, industrial processes, and in some fire-fighting foams (called aqueous film-forming foam or AFFF) since the 1940s. This has resulted in the release of PFAS into the air, water, and soil. PFAS do not easily break down under natural conditions and are often referred to as “forever chemicals.”
PFAS are stable, persistent chemicals that bioaccumulate in blood and organs over time. As a result, all residents may be at risk from PFAS exposure. Current scientific literature indicates that people are primarily exposed to PFAS through the ingestion of food and water. Everyone is encouraged to be proactive in addressing potential PFAS contamination, not only in drinking water, but through the other common routes of exposure. Ways to reduce exposure include:
• Choose stainless steel, cast iron, or non-stick cookware that does not contain PFAS.
• Avoid water repellents on clothing.
• Use personal care products without “PTFE” or “Fluoro” ingredients.
• Use water filters designed to remove PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 standards).
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) also encourages private well owners near the impacted water system to test their well water for PFAS or consider installing treatment, such as activated carbon filters, on drinking water faucets. Private well owners who have health-related questions or require technical assistance can contact IDPH by phone at (217) 782-5830 or by email at dph.tox@Illinois.gov.
Attached is a copy of the Public Health Notice being provided to the CWS and customers, which includes information on potential health effects, home water filter treatment options, and ways to minimize PFAS exposure from other sources. The notice provided to CWS will be posted on the Illinois EPA website at: https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/drinking-water/public-water-users/notices.html. More information regarding PFAS, including health effects and additional ways to reduce exposure, is available on the Illinois EPA PFAS webpage at https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/water-quality/pfas.html.
Additional information can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry website at: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/. The IDPH provides additional information on PFAS in drinking water at: https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/private-water/fact-sheets/pfas-drinking-water.html.
***Courtesy of the Illinois EPA***
