Hardness
Very Hard
216.5 PPM · 12.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Vermont, IL 61484
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Fulton County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Vermont
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Fulton 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 738 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
216.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
216.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
12.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 216.5 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
8
Nearest site
27.9 mi
Observation range
Jan 25, 2016–Jun 3, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: MASON TAZEWELL DRAINAGE D AT CR2350E NR TOPEKA, IL (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 61484 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Vermont median
217 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 216.5–216.5 PPM
Illinois median
285 PPM
68 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
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
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.074
EPA limit 0.06
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.086
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 28
- Health-based
- 19
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.074 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | IL0570950 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Simazine | IL0570950 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.069 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | IL0570950 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.086 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | IL0570950 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Atrazine | IL0570950 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.081 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | IL0570950 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.072 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | IL0570950 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.067 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | IL0570950 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL0570950 | Resolved | Aug 14, 2025through Jun 23, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL0570950 | Resolved | Aug 14, 2025through Jun 23, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.063 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | IL0570950 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IL0570950 | Resolved | Jan 19, 2025through Jan 22, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.087 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | IL0570950 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.068 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | IL0570950 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.064 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | IL0570950 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.09 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | IL0570950 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.087 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | IL0570950 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | IL0570950 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 8, 2024 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | IL0570950 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 8, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | IL0570950 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
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 Vermont ZIP 61484 using 216.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
216.5 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
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM 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 Vermont
Is tap water safe in Vermont?+
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 216.5 PPM, or 12.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 216.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.