Hardness
Very Hard
264 PPM · 15.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Litchfield, IL 62015
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Montgomery County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Litchfield
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Montgomery 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
1 system
Serves 6,648 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
264 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
264
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
15.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 264 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
5
Nearest site
41 mi
Observation range
Jan 6, 2016–Jun 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Mississippi River Pool Lock and Dam 26 at Alton,IL (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 62015 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Litchfield median
255 PPM
9 PPM higher2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 245.5–264 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
21 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, 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
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 40
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atrazine | IL1350400 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IL1350400 | Resolved | Dec 26, 2025through Dec 29, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | IL1350400 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | IL1350400 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | IL1350400 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | IL1350400 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL1350400 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | IL1350400 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1350400 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | IL1350400 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Dinoseb | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Simazine | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| 2,4-D | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Heptachlor epoxide | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| 2,4,5-TP | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Picloram | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Methoxychlor | IL1350400 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 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 Litchfield ZIP 62015 using 264 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
264 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 Litchfield
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Litchfield
Is tap water safe in Litchfield?+
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 264 PPM, or 15.4 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 264 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.