Welcome to the City of Mattoon, Illinois

July 13, 2025 5:58 p.m. WATER SAFETY UPDATE – DO NOT DRINK ORDER LIFTED On the morning of Saturday, July 12, the City of Mattoon, in coordination with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), conducted water quality sampling. Test results received today show a decreased level of algal bloom neurotoxin at 0.252 parts per billion, which is now below the IEPA’s Do Not Drink advisory threshold of 0.3 parts per billion. Following IEPA recommendations, the City has completed flushing of the municipal water system. As a result, the Do Not Drink order is now LIFTED. Before using tap water: • [...]

July 12, 2025 1:00 p.m. UPDATE IEPA sampled the water on the morning of Friday, July 11th. Results from that testing obtained today were found to have an algal bloom neurological toxin at .314 parts per billion level, down from .35 parts per billion from our previous testing. The advisory level for a DO NOT DRINK order is .3 parts per billion. While the levels have significantly decreased because of the treatment activities, the toxin levels are still over the recommended limit and the DO NOT DRINK order will continue. At this time, the City has taken more samples and [...]

FAQs About City of Mattoon Water Situation Q: What’s the issue with our water? A: On Thursday, July 10th, the City was notified by IEPA that water contained trace amounts of microcystin (micro-sys-tin), a cyanotoxin (sigh-an-o-toxin) produced by a kind of cyanobacteria that is commonly called “blue-green algae.” While the City continually monitors the water quality, tests performed by the IEPA happen on a periodic basis and when deemed necessary. The water tested at a .35 parts per billion level and the advisory level for children preschool age and younger (under 6 years old), pregnant women and nursing mothers, individuals [...]

July 11, 2025 1:30 P.M. IEPA has been at our water facility site and obtained samples. Results are pending and will be provided by the IEPA by 2:00 p.m. tomorrow. IEPA has advised the following: "IF A DRINKING WATER ADVISORY IS ISSUED, IS THE TAP WATER SAFE FOR OTHER USES OTHER THAN DRINKING?" "Given the current scientific understanding, it is unlikely that showering, bathing, washing hands, doing laundry, etc. in tap water with cyanotoxin levels near or below the Health Advisory will be harmful to human health. However, infants and young children under the age of six should be supervised [...]

July 11, 2025 11:00 a.m. The City of Mattoon is currently in communication with IEPA and the Coles County Health Department. We are following their guidance and aggressively treating the water. The City is awaiting further sampling and testing from the IEPA. Once further guidance is provided by the Coles County Health Department and the IEPA, we will share that information with the public.