Hardness
Very Hard
250.5 PPM · 14.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Elgin, IL 60120
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Cook County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Elgin
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Cook County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 114,797 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
250.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
250.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 250.5 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
5.8 mi
Observation range
Apr 12, 2016–Apr 22, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: FOX RIVER AT HUNTLEY ROAD AT CARPENTERSVILLE, IL (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 60120 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Elgin median
251 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 250.5–250.5 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
34 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2026
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 21
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | IL0894400 | Resolved | Nov 28, 2025through Dec 12, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IL0894400 | Resolved | Nov 28, 2025through Dec 12, 2024 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | IL0894380 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | IL0894380 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL0894400 | Resolved | Aug 22, 2025through Sep 3, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL0894400 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL0894400 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 21, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IL0894380 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Nov 12, 2025 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | IL0894380 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | IL0894380 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | IL0894400 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Aug 29, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL0894400 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Aug 29, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IL0894400 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IL0894400 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHM | IL0894400 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Chloramine | IL0894400 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL0894380 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 14, 2024 |
| Dalapon | IL0894380 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IL0894400 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| TTHM | IL0894400 | 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 Elgin ZIP 60120 using 250.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
250.5 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 systemsAffiliate 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Elgin
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Elgin
Is tap water safe in Elgin?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 250.5 PPM, or 14.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 250.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.