A short, sourced roundup of drinking water news that affects Palos Heights homeowners. Each item links to the original report so you can read it in full. Palos Heights buys Lake Michigan water treated by the City of Chicago, so Chicago and national rules matter here too.

  1. National

    EPA proposes changes to the PFAS drinking water rule

    One proposal keeps the PFOA and PFOS limits with an option for water systems to request until 2031 to comply; another would rescind limits for four other PFAS.

    Source: U.S. EPA — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

  2. Chicago

    Reporters map Chicago's lead service lines

    Inside Climate News, Grist, and WBEZ mapped city data showing an estimated 412,000 of about 491,000 Chicago service lines are at least partly lead or affected by it. The map covers Chicago addresses, not the suburbs.

    Source: Inside Climate News, Grist and WBEZ — Chicago Has a Huge Lead Pipe Problem—and We Mapped It

  3. National

    EPA says it will keep PFOA and PFOS limits

    EPA announced it would keep the limits for the two most-studied PFAS and reconsider the others.

    Source: U.S. EPA — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

  4. Illinois

    Statewide: 1.38 million Illinois service lines need replacement

    The Illinois Municipal League's 2025 survey, using Illinois EPA's 2024 inventory data, counted 1,384,236 lead, galvanized-requiring-replacement, and unknown lines statewide and estimated replacement at more than $20.9 billion.

    Source: Illinois Municipal League — 2025 IML Lead Service Line Survey

  5. National

    EPA finalizes the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

    Most water systems must replace lead service lines within 10 years, and the lead action level drops to 10 ppb. A water utility trade group has challenged the rule in court; EPA is defending it.

    Source: U.S. EPA — Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

  6. National

    EPA sets the first national PFAS drinking water limits

    The rule set 4 parts per trillion limits for PFOA and PFOS and requires systems to report PFAS levels to the public starting in 2027.

    Source: U.S. EPA — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

  7. Chicago

    Study estimates lead exposure from tap water among Chicago children

    A JAMA Pediatrics study using nearly 40,000 household tests from 2016–2023 estimated 68% of Chicago children under 6 live in homes where tap water had detectable lead. The study covers Chicago, not the suburbs.

    Source: JAMA Pediatrics — Estimated Childhood Lead Exposure From Drinking Water in Chicago

Sources

  1. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation — U.S. EPA
  2. Chicago Has a Huge Lead Pipe Problem—and We Mapped It — Inside Climate News, Grist and WBEZ, August 28, 2025
  3. 2025 IML Lead Service Line Survey — Illinois Municipal League
  4. Lead and Copper Rule Improvements — U.S. EPA, October 8, 2024
  5. Estimated Childhood Lead Exposure From Drinking Water in Chicago — JAMA Pediatrics, March 18, 2024

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Palos Heights Water Filtration is an independent business and is not affiliated with the City of Palos Heights. Product certifications are model-specific and can change; check the current listing before you buy.