Macomb Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
442.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.54
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 Macomb, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Macomb | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -66% |
| Washing Machine | 6.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -49% |
| Water Heater | 7.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -50% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Macomb compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Macomb, Illinois | 203.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Burlington, Iowa | 321.5 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Galesburg, Illinois | 226 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Canton, Illinois | 264 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Jacksonville, Illinois | 122 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Macomb compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Macomb | 203.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Macomb's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Macomb, Illinois, in McDonough County — the McDonough County seat adjacent to Bushnell in western Illinois, home of Western Illinois University, in the central Illinois Till Plain agricultural corridor — receives its municipal water from the City of Macomb Water Division, drawing from the Prairie Lakes Reservoir or the Lamoine River watershed in McDonough County.
The hard 203.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 442.3 mg/L reflect the western Illinois Till Plain's Mississippian carbonate character. The Macomb area drains the Central Illinois Till Plain — underlain by the Mississippian Keokuk-Warsaw Limestone (crinoidal carbonate — primary hardness source), the Mississippian Burlington Formation (oolitic limestone), and the Pennsylvanian Carbondale Formation (calcareous shale-coal). The calcareous Mississippian limestone sequence beneath the glacial till of west-central Illinois produces the hard water characteristic of the Macomb-Western Illinois University supply.
At 203.5 mg/L, Macomb's water is hard — scale builds rapidly in appliances and plumbing. A water softener is recommended. The PFAS level of 7.1 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Western Illinois University (Macomb — institutional PFAS sources from fire suppression systems), the Illinois River agricultural PFAS corridor, and the central Illinois PFAS background contribute to Macomb's readings.
Geology & Source: Macomb in McDonough County draws from the Macomb Water Division on the Lamoine River watershed (McDonough County, western Illinois) — the Lamoine drains the Central Illinois Till Plain (Pennsylvanian Carbondale Formation, Mississippian Keokuk-Warsaw Limestone) — Illinois Central Till Plain Mississippian limestone carbonate drainage produces hard water at 203.5 mg/L with TDS 442 mg/L in this McDonough County Illinois city.