Hardness
Very Hard
306 PPM · 17.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Pekin, IL 61554
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Tazewell County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Il American-Pekin
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Tazewell 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
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 31,731 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
306 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
306
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
17.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 306 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
37
Nearest site
21.1 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: 22N7W-28.5a (IL Tree Nursery) (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 61554 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Pekin median
306 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 306–306 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
21 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)
0.001 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.5 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2017
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.5
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 21
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Aug 22, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Jul 12, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Jul 12, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL1795030 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Jul 2, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IL1795030 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | IL1795030 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Jul 11, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Jul 11, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Jun 13, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IL1795030 | Unaddressed | Jun 13, 2024 |
| TTHM | IL1795030 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IL1795030 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1790030 | Resolved | Jul 10, 2023through Jan 4, 2024 |
| Chlorine dioxide | IL1795030 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through May 31, 2023 |
| Chlorite | IL1795030 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through May 31, 2023 |
| TTHM | IL1795030 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IL1795030 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through 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 Pekin ZIP 61554 using 306 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
306 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
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 Pekin
Is tap water safe in Pekin?+
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 306 PPM, or 17.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 306 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.