Lead Service Line Information
The Department of Utilities continuously strives to provide its residents with safe, clean, and high-quality drinking water. The water supplied by the City of Quincy complies with all Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) standards, including those for lead. It is important that residents remain informed when it comes to their drinking water. For details about the City's drinking water supply and its compliance with all of the standards listed in the Safe Drinking Water Act, view our latest Consumer Confidence Report here(PDF, 214KB).
The City employs corrosion control measures to protect the drinking water supply from lead that is found in older service lines. However, it is possible that routine repair and maintenance activities may temporarily increase lead levels in the water to your home. Having a lead service line does not necessarily mean you will have lead in your water, but does indicate that you may be at greater risk if your lead service line is disrupted.
Water Service Line Inventory Requirements
The City has put extensive effort into creating an up-to-date service line inventory. Using historical records, the City has been able to identify the publicly owned portion of nearly every water service connected to its distribution system. You can find the inventory and search for your service on our Lead Water Service Information page.
The City of Quincy does not have records on the private side of the service line because property owners own the service line. Identifying the type of pipe coming into your home helps us obtain a more accurate count of the lead service lines in our community. Please help us by performing a simple scratch test to indicate the type of pipe that comes into your home and your water meter. You can find step-by-step instructions here or by watching this video.
By using the information supplied by consumers through their visual inspections, the City is able to accurately document information about the privately-owned portions of water services. Please help us collect data on the privately-owned portion of your water service by completing the Water Line Material Survey.
Lead Service Line Replacement
The City has submitted a Lead Service Line Replacement Plan to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The plan calls for at least 10% of the City's lead services to be replaced each year beginning in 2027. Click here(PDF, 1MB) to see a copy of the City's Lead Service Line Replacement Plan.
Please track our progress by using the dashboard located on the Lead Water Service Information tab.
Water Quality Notifications
The City of Quincy is dedicated to taking proactive steps to increase water quality awareness and reduce the potential risk for lead in drinking water.
As part of this commitment, the City provides notice of all water maintenance or replacement work being performed near homes that have service lines that are mad of lead. We strive to provide our residents with proactive information, education, and tips along with point-of-use filtered water pitchers to ensure water quality is maintained.
The City also sends annual notification letters to residents who have either a lead service line or a service line of unknown material. In the City of Quincy, lead service lines were routinely used through the 1920's. Homes built after 1930, are unlikely to have lead water service lines.
Tips for Reducing Your Risk to lead Exposure
The following actions can be taken to help reduce your risk to lead exposure:
- Run your faucets to flush out lead - Flushing the water from your pipes for a few minutes prior to using it should clear the lead from your household plumbing to the kitchen tap.
- Use cold water for drinking, cooking, preparing baby formula - Do not drink, cook, or make baby formula with water from the hot water tap. Lead dissolves more easily into hot water.
- Clean and remove any debris from faucet aerators on a regular basis.
- Do not boil water to reduce lead - Boiling water will not reduce lead as lead dissolves more easily in hot water.
- Purchase lead-free faucets and plumbing components - Remove all lead plumbing components that may be present in your home and replace them with lead-free components.
Water Testing Standards
The City of Quincy's water supply consistently tests below lead levels that are deemed acceptable by EPA standards. Detectable levels of lead are not present in the drinking water that leaves the water treatment facility. The Department of Utilities is currently required to collect and test water samples from 60 designated locations every 6 months. The last round of testing was completed in early 2025, and no samples reported the presence of lead above the action level of 10 ug/L.
Testing Your Water for Lead
Lead that is dissolved in water cannot be seen, is odorless, and has no smell. Water sample testing is the most accurate and effective way to determine whether or not lead is present in the water going into your house. While the City of Quincy does not perform lead testing in-house, we have provided a list below of nearby laboratories that are certified to perform lead testing. A list of accredited laboratories can also be found on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency website. If you choose to have your water tested for lead, laboratories will send you bottles and instructions for collecting your water sample. Please note that the City of Quincy is not affiliated with these outside laboratories and you will be charged a fee for their services. The certified laboratories located closest to Quincy are:
Resources to Learn More About Lead Exposure & Your Health