How hard is the water in Flossmoor, IL?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 280 ppm (16.4 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 60422?

At 280 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

Local water dashboard

Official source aggregation

Water quality in Flossmoor, IL 60422

Q: Is tap water safe in Flossmoor?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

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: Flossmoor
Source water: Surface water
County: Cook County
Profile updated: May 27, 2026

At a glance

What the current records say

EPA quarter 2026Q2

Hardness

Very Hard

280 PPM · 16.4 GPG

Compliance screen

No active flag

0 active health-based records

Lead 90th percentile

0.0054 mg/L

36% of action level

Utility match

1 system

Serves 9,371 people system-wide

Hardness meter

How hard is the water?

Very Hard

Estimated local hardness

USGS hardness classification scale

280 PPM

Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+

Parts per million

280

mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent

Grains per gallon

16.4

1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM

What this means at home

At 280 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

Nearest site

11.6 mi

Observation range

Apr 26, 2016–May 13, 2026

Estimate confidence

Moderate

Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: BIG MARSH AT SOUTH DEERING, IL (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗

Regional context

Is 60422 typical?

These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.

Flossmoor median

280 PPM

About the same

1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 280–280 PPM

Illinois median

285 PPM

5 PPM lower

1065 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)

0.0054 mg/L

Reported Dec 31, 2025

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

Pass

Local 0.0054

EPA limit 0.015

Share of EPA benchmark

100% line = listed limit

EPA SDWIS compliance

Reported violation history

Open EPA source documentation ↗

2026Q2

All records: 3
Health-based: 0
Active health-based: 0

Contaminant or rule	System	Status	Period
Consumer Confidence Rule	IL0310870	Unaddressed	Jul 1, 2025
Consumer Confidence Rule	IL0310870	Resolved	Jul 1, 2023through Jun 11, 2024
Lead and Copper Rule	IL0310870	Resolved	Dec 30, 2022through Feb 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

Your personalized water action plan

Matched to Flossmoor ZIP 60422 using 280 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.

1 match

Scale protection

High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener

280 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 systems

Affiliate 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 Flossmoor

Is tap water safe in Flossmoor?+

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 280 PPM, or 16.4 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener?+

At 280 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.