Utility Division

The City of DeKalb's public water system is a modern, state-of-the-art water supply that uses a combination of ion exchange softening and iron removal filtration to produce a reliable and safe water source to the citizens of DeKalb and Northern Illinois University.

Water Sources

The source of water provided to the residents of DeKalb comes from 6 deep wells, drawing water from the Ironton-Galesville and St. Peter sandstone unit of the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer, and 3 shallow wells that draw water from the Troy Valley Aquifer. These 2 aquifers provide an excellent source of water to the City of DeKalb which is essentially free of contaminants.

Water Treatment

Groundwater is treated at 1 of 5 ion exchange/iron removal water treatment plants. The treatment process produces a high quality water supply by reducing the amount of hardness and iron in the water. Before leaving the treatment plant, the groundwater is treated with chlorine and phosphate to insure the safety of the water supply within our distribution system. In addition, fluoride is added to the water to promote the development of strong teeth.

Water Quality

DeKalb's water is monitored for microbial, inorganic and organic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides and radioactive contaminants. Over 13,000 water analyses are performed annually on the City's drinking water for over 100 different contaminants. We are pleased to inform you that the City of DeKalb's drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards. View the water quality report (PDF) online.