Hardness
Very Hard
343 PPM · 20.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Harmon, IL 61042
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Lee County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Harmon
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Lee 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
0.005 mg/L
33% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 111 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
343 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
343
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
20.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 343 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
53
Nearest site
31.7 mi
Observation range
May 22, 2017–Aug 21, 2023
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 24N 6E- 5.5e1 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 61042 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Harmon median
343 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 343–343 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
58 PPM higher1065 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)
0.005 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2022
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.005
EPA limit 0.015
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 7
EPA limit 5
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 12
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | IL1030300 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Chlorine | IL1030300 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IL1030300 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1030300 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Feb 20, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IL1030300 | Unaddressed | Dec 30, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | IL1030300 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1030300 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 14, 2022 |
| Public Notice | IL1030300 | Resolved | Jan 15, 2022through Mar 25, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | IL1030300 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1030300 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Public Notice | IL1030300 | Resolved | Apr 25, 2021through Apr 18, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 7 PCI/L · MCL 5 | IL1030300 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 2021 |
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 Harmon ZIP 61042 using 343 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
343 PPM is 3× 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
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) has 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 Harmon
Is tap water safe in Harmon?+
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 343 PPM, or 20.1 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 343 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.