Hardness
Very Hard
284 PPM · 16.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Loraine, IL 62349
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Adams County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Loraine
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Adams County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.0147 mg/L
98% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 300 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
284 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
284
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 284 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
12
Nearest site
16 mi
Observation range
May 22, 2017–Jul 30, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 1S 9W-11.5h2 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 62349 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Loraine median
284 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 284–284 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
About the same1065 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)
0.0147 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2020
Copper (CU90)
3.1 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1999
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0147
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 3.1
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 14
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | IL0010450 | Unaddressed | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IL0010450 | Unaddressed | Aug 22, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL0010450 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL0010450 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | IL0010450 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL0010450 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| TTHM | IL0010450 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IL0010450 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IL0010450 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 14, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL0010450 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Dec 14, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IL0010450 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Jan 31, 2022 |
| Chlorine | IL0010450 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Feb 28, 2022 |
| TTHM | IL0010450 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IL0010450 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 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 Loraine ZIP 62349 using 284 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
284 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
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS 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
Water questions for Loraine
Is tap water safe in Loraine?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 284 PPM, or 16.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 284 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.