Jacksonville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.1 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
200.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.33
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 Jacksonville, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Jacksonville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -34% |
| Washing Machine | 9.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -24% |
| Water Heater | 10.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -29% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Jacksonville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Jacksonville, Illinois | 122 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Chatham, Illinois | 245.5 mg/L | 8.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Springfield, Illinois | 200.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Godfrey, Illinois | 149.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Upper Alton, Illinois | 109 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Jacksonville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Jacksonville | 122 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Jacksonville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Jacksonville, Illinois, in Morgan County — the Morgan County seat in west-central Illinois, a historic Illinois city home of Illinois College and MacMurray College, adjacent to Springfield in the Illinois prairie corridor — receives its municipal water from the Jacksonville Water Division, drawing from Lake Jacksonville (local reservoir in Morgan County) or from the Illinois River system.
The moderately hard 122 mg/L hardness and TDS of 200.6 mg/L reflect the Morgan County reservoir's Illinois Till Plain carbonate watershed character. Lake Jacksonville drains the west-central Illinois Till Plain — terrain underlain by the Mississippian Burlington-Keokuk Limestone (prominent in western Illinois outcrops), Pennsylvanian coal measures, and extensive calcareous Pleistocene Illinoian till. The moderate hardness reflects the calcareous till plain drainage into the reservoir, typical of reservoir-sourced water in the central Illinois agricultural zone.
At 122 mg/L, Jacksonville's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 4.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Springfield state government and associated industrial corridor (Sangamon County), the central Illinois military-industrial PFAS background (Camp Lincoln — Illinois National Guard), and the Morgan County agricultural PFAS legacy contribute to Jacksonville's readings.
Geology & Source: Jacksonville in Morgan County draws from the Jacksonville Water Division on Lake Jacksonville (Morgan County) — the reservoir drains the Illinois Till Plain (Pennsylvanian coal measures, Mississippian Burlington Limestone, calcareous Pleistocene till) — Illinois Till Plain Mississippian limestone drainage produces moderately hard water at 122 mg/L with TDS 201 mg/L in this Morgan County Illinois city.