Collinsville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
16.5 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
755.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.75
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Collinsville, your appliances are currently losing 38% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Collinsville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -73% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Collinsville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Collinsville, Illinois | 282 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Glen Carbon, Illinois | 146.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Fairview Heights, Illinois | 236 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| O'Fallon, Illinois | 239.5 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Swansea, Illinois | 234 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Collinsville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Collinsville | 282 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Collinsville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Collinsville, Illinois, in Madison County in the Metro East region of the St. Louis metropolitan area, receives its municipal water from Illinois American Water, drawing from the Mississippi River near the historic confluence zone where the Missouri River joins from the northwest and the Illinois River joins from the northeast — the most mineralologically concentrated freshwater junction in North America. Collinsville is just a few miles from Cahokia Mounds, the great pre-Columbian city, located on the same American Bottom floodplain where these three river systems converge.
The very hard 282 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 755.9 mg/L reflect the combined Missouri-Mississippi mineral signature at this critical river confluence. The Missouri River contributes calcium and sulfate from Permian evaporite formations in Kansas and Nebraska, Cretaceous shale leachate from the Dakotas, and dissolved mineral load from the entire Rocky Mountain and Great Plains drainage. The upper Mississippi contributes carbonate platform mineral load from extensive Silurian and Devonian dolomite drainage across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. The adjacent Illinois River adds further carbonate-plain dissolved load. The result — at higher hardness than the neighboring Edwardsville supply — reflects Collinsville's potentially different intake position relative to the Mississippi-Missouri confluence mixing zone.
At 282 mg/L, Collinsville's water is very hard, and mineral management is an ongoing household concern. Scale forms rapidly in all heated appliances, dishwashers require water softener salts to produce presentable results, and the high TDS contributes a notable mineral flavor to tap water. Showerheads and faucet aerators need monthly attention. A whole-house water softener is strongly recommended for Collinsville homeowners. The PFAS level of 9.8 ppt — elevated from this industrial river corridor — makes a certified reverse osmosis system for drinking water a practical health measure for Metro East residents.
Geology & Source: Collinsville in Madison County draws from the Mississippi River near the Missouri River confluence zone — the same ultra-mineralized river corridor supplying nearby Edwardsville — the combined Missouri and Mississippi drainage from Permian evaporite plains, Rocky Mountain runoff, and Midwest carbonate basins delivers extraordinarily dissolved mineral loads, producing very hard water at 282 mg/L with TDS 755.9 mg/L.