Hardness
Very Hard
277.5 PPM · 16.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Albany, IL 61230
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Whiteside County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Albany
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Whiteside County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.0022 mg/L
15% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 846 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
277.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
277.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 277.5 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
28
Nearest site
11.1 mi
Observation range
May 22, 2017–Oct 25, 2017
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 081N05E09CAD 1997NAWQA (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 61230 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Albany median
278 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 277.5–277.5 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
7 PPM lower1065 indexed ZIP readings · Range 115–408 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0022 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.5 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0022
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.5
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 26
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | IL1950050 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL1950050 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Dec 18, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1950050 | Resolved | Feb 23, 2025through Jun 27, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IL1950050 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1950050 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through Jun 27, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1950050 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through Jun 27, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1950050 | Resolved | Nov 6, 2024through Jun 27, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1950050 | Resolved | Nov 6, 2024through Jun 27, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IL1950050 | Unaddressed | Sep 2, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IL1950050 | Resolved | Jul 13, 2024through Jun 27, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1950050 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 5, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IL1950050 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| Chlorine | IL1950050 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 5, 2024 |
| TTHM | IL1950050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IL1950050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IL1950050 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | IL1950050 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Nov 3, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IL1950050 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IL1950050 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Mar 11, 2024 |
| Chlorine | IL1950050 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Albany ZIP 61230 using 277.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
277.5 PPM is 2× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), Lead and Copper Rule have a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Albany
Is tap water safe in Albany?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 277.5 PPM, or 16.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 277.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.