Wampum Lake
Cook County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #5 of 16 in the county
- Limited data
Wampum Lake in Cook County, Illinois has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Typical in September
- 68°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
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Stays near Wampum Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wampum Lake in Cook County, Illinois — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Wampum Lake
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Watch Wampum Lake’s letter
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Wampum Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Illinois. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Wampum Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA, last sampled 2021-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.7 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Wampum Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 81°F) and coldest in Oct (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 196 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wampum Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Wampum Lake
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
30 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Wampum Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Envirite Of Il Inc - HarveyHarvey · 2.4 mi away · NPDES IL0071285Recent violation
- Allied Tube And Conduit CorporationHarvey · 3.1 mi away · NPDES IL0063649Recent violation
- Allied Tube And Conduit Corp - SmpfHarvey · 3.1 mi away · NPDES IL0078930Recent violation
- Illinois Central RailroadHomewood · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IL0005193Recent violation
- Material Service Corp-Yard 41Thornton · 1.4 mi away · NPDES IL0001937
- Ely'S Mobile Home Park StpHomewood · 2.6 mi away · NPDES IL0056065
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 16 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Wampum Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Wampum Lake
Where is Wampum Lake?
- Wampum Lake is a lake in Cook County, Illinois. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wampum Lake?
- Wampum Lake in Cook County, Illinois has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.7 µg/L.
Is Wampum Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Wampum Lake?
- Wampum Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 196 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Wampum Lake across LakeQuality
Planning a trip around Indiana Dunes?
Wampum Lake is about 26 miles from Indiana Dunes National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Indiana Dunes →More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- illinois epa
IL_EPA_WQX36 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- MEASURED IN FIELD
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)