Mattoon Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.4 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
169.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.29
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 Mattoon, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Mattoon | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -29% |
| Washing Machine | 9.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -20% |
| Water Heater | 11.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -25% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Mattoon compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mattoon, Illinois | 109 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Charleston, Illinois | 244.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Effingham, Illinois | 207 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Champaign, Illinois | 149.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Urbana, Illinois | 264.5 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Mattoon compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mattoon | 109 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Mattoon's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Mattoon, Illinois, in Coles County — a Coles County city adjacent to Charleston (Eastern Illinois University) in east-central Illinois, a historic railroad junction city — receives its municipal water from the Mattoon Water Division, drawing from the Embarras River or Lake Mattoon (Coles County) through the Mattoon municipal treatment plant.
The moderately hard 109 mg/L hardness and TDS of 169.8 mg/L reflect the east-central Illinois Embarras River's calcareous till drainage character. The Embarras River drains the Illinois Till Plains — calcareous Pleistocene Woodfordian till (calcium carbonate-rich glacial till derived from Great Lakes dolomite), Pennsylvanian Carbondale Formation (coal-bearing — minor hardness contribution), and Mississippian Salem Limestone (calcareous bedrock where exposed). The Pleistocene calcareous till dominates the hardness of east-central Illinois streams.
At 109 mg/L, Mattoon'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 3.9 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Coles County manufacturing corridor, the east-central Illinois PFAS background, and the Embarras River agricultural watershed PFAS contribute to Mattoon's readings.
Geology & Source: Mattoon in Coles County draws from the Mattoon Water Division on the Embarras River (Coles County, east-central Illinois) — the Embarras drains the Illinois Till Plains (calcareous Pleistocene Illinoian and Woodfordian till, Pennsylvanian shale-coal) — Illinois east-central Embarras River Pleistocene till carbonate drainage produces moderately hard water at 109 mg/L with TDS 169.8 mg/L in this Coles County Illinois city.