Hardness
Very Hard
396 PPM · 23.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Rockton, IL 61072
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.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Rockton
- 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
0.0014 mg/L
9% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 7,685 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
396 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
396
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
23.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 396 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
73
Nearest site
14.6 mi
Observation range
Aug 3, 2016–Aug 8, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 27N10E-29.1d1 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 61072 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Rockton median
396 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 396–396 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
111 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0014 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.7 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2022
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0014
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.7
EPA limit 1.3
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 6
EPA limit 5
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 17
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL2015625 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL2015625 | Resolved | Apr 12, 2025through Aug 12, 2025 |
| Nitrate | IL2010350 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IL2015625 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jul 22, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | IL2015625 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jul 22, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | IL2015625 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IL2010350 | Resolved | Apr 2, 2023through May 19, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IL2015625 | Unaddressed | Jan 20, 2023 |
| Toxaphene | IL2010350 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | IL2015625 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Public Notice | IL2015625 | Resolved | May 20, 2022through Jun 29, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | IL2015625 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | IL2015625 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | IL2015625 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | IL2015625 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IL2015625 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Apr 30, 2021 |
| Chlorine | IL2015625 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through May 28, 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 Rockton ZIP 61072 using 396 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
396 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), Combined Radium (-226 and -228) 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 Rockton
Is tap water safe in Rockton?+
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 396 PPM, or 23.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 396 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.