Hardness
Very Hard
373.5 PPM · 21.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Rockford, IL 61109
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Winnebago County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Rockford
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Winnebago 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
0.0073 mg/L
49% of action level
Utility match
6 systems
Serves 147,051 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
373.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
373.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
21.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 373.5 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
74
Nearest site
10.3 mi
Observation range
May 30, 2017–Aug 21, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 44N 3E-34.2a1 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 61109 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Rockford median
394 PPM
20 PPM lower8 indexed ZIP readings · Range 373.5–396 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
89 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)
0.0073 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2026
Copper (CU90)
1.48 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1992
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0073
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.48
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 26
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IL2015345 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Chlorine | IL2015345 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IL2015425 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL2015100 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL2015100 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jul 16, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | IL2015100 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jul 16, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IL2010300 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL2015425 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IL2015345 | Resolved | Feb 9, 2024through Apr 24, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IL2015345 | Resolved | Feb 9, 2024through Apr 24, 2024 |
| Nitrate | IL2015100 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Nitrate | IL2015100 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL2015100 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jun 25, 2024 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | IL2010300 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Dinoseb | IL2010300 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Chlordane | IL2010300 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Chlordane | IL2010300 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 2,4-D | IL2010300 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 2,4,5-TP | IL2010300 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Pentachlorophenol | IL2010300 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
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 Rockford ZIP 61109 using 373.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
373.5 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) 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Rockford
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Rockford
Is tap water safe in Rockford?+
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 373.5 PPM, or 21.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 373.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.