Hardness
Very Hard
286 PPM · 16.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationA source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Livingston County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Very Hard
286 PPM · 16.7 GPG
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 120 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
286 PPM
Parts per million
286
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 286 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
76
Nearest site
9.9 mi
Observation range
May 30, 2017–Aug 22, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 29N 6E-10.8e1 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Emington median
286 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 286–286 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
About the same1065 indexed ZIP readings · Range 115–408 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
4.693 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2022
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Measured in mg/L
Local 4.693
EPA limit 1.3
Measured in MG/L
Local 4.13
EPA limit 4
100% line = listed limit
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | IL1050300 | Resolved | Oct 5, 2025through Oct 9, 2025 |
| FluorideHealth-basedReported 4.13 MG/L · MCL 4 | IL1050300 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1050300 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jun 25, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1050300 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jun 25, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IL1050300 | Resolved | Apr 2, 2023through Jul 12, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IL1050300 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Jul 5, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IL1050300 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2022through Mar 2, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IL1050300 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2022through Jul 1, 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
Matched to Emington ZIP 60934 using 286 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
286 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
Copper (90th percentile), Fluoride 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
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.
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 286 PPM, or 16.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
At 286 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.