South Pond is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Cook County, South Pond ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2023-05-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.3 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Fishing South Pond
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #34 of 68 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Explore South Pond across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
South Pond is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_QZK · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.23 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
23 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of South Pond under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 9 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- River East Plaza Fka North Pier TerminalChicago · 2 mi away · NPDES IL0066605Recent violation
- Centrio Chicago Llc - Plant 5Chicago · 2 mi away · NPDES IL0037613Recent violation
- 300 North Lasalle LlcChicago · 2 mi away · NPDES IL0077810Recent violation
- Trump International Hotel And TowerChicago · 2 mi away · NPDES IL0079812Recent violation
- Lasalle Wacker BldgChicago · 2.1 mi away · NPDES IL0002054Recent violation
- Illinois Center - One BuildingChicago · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IL0026531Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-05-24
Monitoring stations: 1