2025 Water Quality Report
Please click here to view the current Water Quality Report for the City of Galesburg.
2025/2026 PFOA 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
• IEPEA 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.
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. 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. Evaluation and exploration of the possible long-term solutions are underway. Test wells are being drilled at the Oquawka water treatment plant during Spring-Summer 2025 to evaluate all available options around the water treatment plant. Ongoing work and analysis will determine if these new test well locations can provide a sustainable water source with no detectable PFAS compounds, making them viable sites for permanent wells. 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 and potentially 2031) 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 PFOA testing notice 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.
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.