Normal Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
13.5 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
543.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.62
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 Normal, your appliances are currently losing 31% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Normal | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -76% |
| Washing Machine | 5.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -58% |
| Water Heater | 6.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -57% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Normal compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Normal, Illinois | 231 mg/L | 8.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bloomington, Illinois | 191.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Washington, Illinois | 149.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Morton, Illinois | 157.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Lincoln, Illinois | 132.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Normal compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Normal | 231 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Normal's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Normal, Illinois, the McLean County hub adjacent to Bloomington — home of Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University (shared with Bloomington), the 'Twin Cities' of central Illinois' largest metropolitan area, a major State Farm Insurance corporate headquarters community — draws its municipal water supply from the Mahomet–Teays Valley Aquifer (the buried pre-glacial Teays Valley glaciofluvial aquifer of central Illinois) via the Town of Normal Water Division. Water hardness in Normal measures 231 mg/L — classified as very hard.
Normal's very hard supply reflects the Mahomet Aquifer's highly calcareous central Illinois geology. The Mahomet Aquifer (the principal groundwater supply for central Illinois — the Pleistocene–Quaternary calcareous glaciofluvial sand and gravel filling the buried Teays Valley, transported from the calcareous Great Lakes–Wisconsin limestone terrain by the Laurentide Ice Sheet) carries very hard groundwater: the calcareous Wisconsin Age outwash sand and gravel in the Mahomet Valley is embedded in the McLean County calcareous till plain (Tipton Till Plain calcareous till — among the most calcareous glacial deposits in Illinois). The concentrated calcareous glacial and alluvial terrain produces the very hard 231 mg/L consistently at Normal.
At 231 mg/L, Normal residents face significant hard water challenges. Scale deposits form rapidly on all fixtures and tile — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is essential maintenance. Town of Normal Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Illinois EPA and federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Mahomet–Teays Valley Aquifer and local McLean County calcareous glacial till wells via the Town of Normal Water Division — the central Illinois McLean County Mahomet Aquifer (Pleistocene–Quaternary glaciofluvial calcareous sand and gravel in the buried Teays River valley); very hard supply at 231 mg/L in McLean County.