Lake, IL

High Risk (66/100)

A PlainEnviro-computed score from reported facility/violation counts, not an official EPA rating, health forecast, or population-adjusted rate. See methodology.

Environmental data for Lake in Illinois · Population: 711,885

Lake, IL is tracked across three EPA datasets covering 43 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facilities, 88 Safe Drinking Water Act systems, and 0 Superfund National Priorities List sites. Together these generate an environmental burden score of 66/100 (High Risk), calibrated against national distributions for facility density, chemical release volume, Superfund concentration, and water-system health violations.

Industrial disclosures inside the county total 1.6M lbs of reported toxic releases under EPCRA Section 313, while 30 water systems carry an active health-based violation in the SDWIS record. EPA Air Quality System monitors logged a median AQI of 40 and a peak AQI of 140 in 2024, with 82% of observed days rated "Good" (0–50).

All figures below draw directly from federal EPA records, TRI self-reported emissions, SDWIS compliance history, NPL Hazard Ranking System scores, and AQS daily AQI summaries, and are not adjusted, weighted, or forecast. A past violation or elevated score does not itself indicate current unsafe conditions; it documents the regulatory and disclosure history publicly filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the most recent reporting cycle.

Population
711,885
TRI Facilities
43
Water Systems
88
Superfund Sites
0
Total Releases
1.6M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 201 (82%) 39 5 140
2023 182 (75%) 47 13 179
2022 199 (82%) 41 2 159
2021 180 (74%) 55 9 136
2020 199 (83%) 31 10 185
2024 Good Air Quality: 82% of days
Unhealthy days: 5
Median AQI: 40

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Illinois, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (88)

System Population Violations
WAUKEGAN 87,149 2
BUFFALO GROVE 43,212 0
VERNON HILLS - LAKE CO PW 33,207 0
MUNDELEIN 31,500 0
GURNEE 30,193 0
HIGHLAND PARK 30,176 1
ROUND LAKE BEACH 27,200 0
ZION 24,442 0
GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION 23,000 0
GRAYSLAKE 21,248 2
LIBERTYVILLE 20,500 0
LAKE ZURICH 19,759 0
LAKE FOREST 19,642 5
DEERFIELD 19,196 1
ROUND LAKE 18,430 0
NORTH CHICAGO 16,813 9
WILDWOOD SUBDIVISION - LAKE CO PW 14,832 0
LINDENHURST 14,500 0
ANTIOCH 14,175 3
WAUCONDA 14,084 0
WINNETKA 12,475 0
FOX LAKE 11,780 1
LAKE VILLA 8,829 0
BEACH PARK 8,710 0
ISLAND LAKE 8,066 0
LINCOLNSHIRE 7,940 1
VOLO 6,629 2
WINTHROP HARBOR 6,565 0
GRANDWOOD PARK SUBDIVISION - LAKE CO PW 5,751 0
LAKE BLUFF 5,600 3
PARK CITY 5,425 0
HIGHWOOD 5,335 0
ROUND LAKE PARK 4,900 1
LCPW - PEKARA SUBDIVISION 3,711 0
RIVERWOODS 3,618 0
HAINESVILLE 3,528 3
FOX LAKE HILLS SUBDIVISION - LAKE CO PW 2,628 0
ROUND LAKE HEIGHTS 2,622 0
SADDLEBROOK FARMS 2,558 5
PARK CITY MHP 2,460 0
HERSCHER 1,600 0
LCPW - BROOKS FARM SUBDIVISION 1,563 0
GREEN OAKS 1,470 2
TOWER LAKES 1,372 1
COUNTRYSIDE LAKE SUBDIVISION -LAKE CO PW 1,287 0
BANNOCKBURN 1,013 2
LAKE COUNTY PW- HAWTHORN WOODS 675 0
WEST SHORE PARK SUBDIVISION 590 1
LAKE VIEW MHP 568 2
HILLDALE MANOR SUBDIVISION 414 1
ALLENDALE ASSOCIATION 400 1
LCPW - HIGHLAND LAKE SUBDIVISION 330 0
SCHWERMANNS 2ND AND 3RD WTR BRD 285 0
FIELDS OF LONG GROVE 267 0
TANNERON BAY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION 256 2
BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING - VERNON HILLS 225 0
FOREST LAKE ADDITION - LAKE CO PW 225 0
HEIDEN GARDENS CONDOS 217 0
ALDEN LONG GROVE NURSING CENTER 211 0
SYLVAN LAKE 1ST SUBDIVISION 210 0
TOWNERS SUBDIVISION 206 1
AVANTARA LONG GROVE 200 0
DIAMOND LAKE MHP 198 0
PRAIRIE TRAILS OF LONG GROVE 189 0
WEST SHORELAND SUBDIVISION 189 0
WADSWORTH OAKS SUBDIVISION 185 0
DUCK LAKE WELL OWNERS ASSOCIATION 141 1
MOUNT ST JOSEPH SCHOOL ICF 125 2
VALLEY HI NURSING HOME 125 0
LAKE CO. PW - ARDEN SHORES ESTATES 105 0
CHAIN-O-LAKES MHP 84 0
PROMONTORY POINTE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION 78 0
LONG GROVE 70 0
OTTAWA ESTATES MHP (FORMERLY DATTIS MHP) 70 3
GLENSTONE SBDV HOA 65 0
RIVER EAST VILLAGE MHP 65 0
NEW PERSPECTIVE SENIOR LIVING 62 0
SILVER OAK APTS 60 1
ELM OAK MUTUAL WATER SYSTEM 50 2
LCPW - OAK TERRACE 45 0
HOLY HILL APARTMENTS 32 0
DAYSPRING BIBLE COLLEGE 30 0
337-9 HOLY HILL APARTMENTS LLC 30 0
WHISPERING PINES APTS 30 4
425 HOLY HILL APTS 28 0
BLUFF LAKE LODGES, INC. 24 1
LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC WATER DISTRICT 1 0
CENTRAL LAKE COUNTY JAWA 0 0

TRI Facilities (43)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Waukegan Generating Station 555.6K lbs
2 Abbvie-North Chicago Facility 328.3K lbs
3 Vantage Specialties 216.6K lbs
4 Midwest Printed Circuit Services Inc. 162.4K lbs
5 Akzonobel Aerospace Coatings 92.5K lbs
6 Jessup Manufacturing Co 45.4K lbs
7 Pfanstiehl Inc 29.6K lbs
8 Avicenna Technology DBA Laserage 22.1K lbs
9 Geremarie Corp 22.0K lbs
10 Emco Chemical Distributors Inc 21.4K lbs
11 The Imagine Group LLC 18.7K lbs
12 Honeywell Analytics Inc 17.4K lbs
13 Roquette America Inc Gurnee Plant 12.0K lbs
14 The Gillette Co. Llc/p&g North Chicago Plant 4.3K lbs
15 Coleman Cable LLC 1.2K lbs
16 Metalex North 632 lbs
17 American Metal Fibers Inc 276 lbs
18 Carter-Hoffmann LLC 271 lbs
19 Maclean-Fogg Component Systems 239 lbs
20 Gold Bond Building Products - Waukegan 234 lbs
21 American Blending & Filling 226 lbs
22 American Metal Fibers Inc 166 lbs
23 Plexus Mfg Solutions - Chicago 158 lbs
24 Siemens Industry Inc 116 lbs
25 Medline Northpoint Services 105 lbs
26 Helio Precision Products 84 lbs
27 Skach Manufacturing Co. 36 lbs
28 Abf Labs Inc. 26 lbs
29 Abf Bridge 11 lbs
30 Harger Inc. 8 lbs
31 Northfield Block Co 1 lbs
32 Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete Inc 1 lbs
33 Vcna Prairie LLC - Yard 1024 0 lbs
34 Immi Vehicle Improvement Products 0 lbs
35 Gallagher Corp 0 lbs
36 Industrial Wire & Cable II Corp 0 lbs
37 Morgan Bronze Products Inc 0 lbs
38 Novelis Alr Aluminum LLC 0 lbs
39 Coral Chemical Co 0 lbs
40 Smalley 0 lbs
41 Zion Energy Center 0 lbs
42 Belle Aire Creations 0 lbs
43 Coral Chemical 0 lbs

Cities in Lake (15)

Antioch
Pop: -
2 facilities · 2 water
Grayslake
Pop: -
2 facilities · 3 water
Gurnee
Pop: -
3 facilities · 1 water
Lake Bluff
Pop: -
5 facilities · 3 water
Lake Zurich
Pop: -
4 facilities · 3 water
Libertyville
Pop: -
1 facilities · 14 water
Mundelein
Pop: -
3 facilities · 6 water
Vernon Hills
Pop: -
1 facilities · 4 water
North Chicago
Pop: -
3 facilities · 1 water
Lincolnshire
Pop: -
2 facilities · 1 water
Round Lake Beach
Pop: -
1 facilities · 1 water
Waukegan
Pop: -
11 facilities · 1 water
Buffalo Grove
Pop: -
2 facilities · 1 water
Zion
Pop: -
2 facilities · 3 water
Round Lake
Pop: -
1 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Lake, Illinois?
Lake, IL has an environmental risk score of 66/100 (High Risk), based on 43 TRI facilities, 0 Superfund sites, and 88 water systems on record. 30 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Lake?
No Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites are currently registered in Lake, IL in the EPA database.
How many toxic release facilities are in Lake?
Lake, IL has 43 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 1.6M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Lake?
In 2024, Lake, IL recorded a median AQI of 40 and a peak AQI of 140. 82% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Lake?
Lake, IL has 88 EPA-regulated water systems. 30 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Lake?
Environmental compliance in Lake, Illinois is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Illinois state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro Editorial