Hardness
Very Hard
259 PPM · 15.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Steeleville, IL 62288
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Randolph County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Steeleville
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Randolph 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
0.0017 mg/L
11% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 1,960 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
259 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
259
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
15.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 259 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
10
Nearest site
22.8 mi
Observation range
Aug 17, 2016–Aug 23, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: T34N R11E 12ACA1 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 62288 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Steeleville median
259 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 259–259 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
26 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0017 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0017
EPA limit 0.015
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 7
EPA limit 5
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 45
- Health-based
- 8
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Unaddressed | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Unaddressed | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Unaddressed | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Unaddressed | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Unaddressed | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Resolved | Jan 15, 2026through Jan 16, 2026 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 7 PCI/L · MCL 5 | IL1570650 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Unaddressed | Nov 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Unaddressed | Oct 26, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Resolved | Oct 16, 2025through Jul 29, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Resolved | Oct 16, 2025through Jul 29, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 8 PCI/L · MCL 5 | IL1570650 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 10 PCI/L · MCL 5 | IL1570650 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IL1570650 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL1570650 | Resolved | Jun 14, 2025through Jun 11, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 10.54 PCI/L · MCL 5 | IL1570650 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | IL1570650 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 10.89 PCI/L · MCL 5 | IL1570650 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | IL1570650 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | IL1570650 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through 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 Steeleville ZIP 62288 using 259 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
259 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
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Steeleville
Is tap water safe in Steeleville?+
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 259 PPM, or 15.1 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 259 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.