How does Swansea's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Swansea (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Swansea Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

501 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Swansea, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Swansea	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Swansea compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Swansea, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	115.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Belleville, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Fairview Heights, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	8.2 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Shiloh, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
O'Fallon, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	46.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Swansea compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Swansea	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Swansea home

Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →

Shop Now

What Makes Swansea's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 501 mg/LpH: 7.2

The American Bottoms Aquifer is situated in a complex geological area characterized by Quaternary alluvial and glacial deposits sitting atop Paleozoic bedrock. The region's underground water system is shaped by its glacial history, with water filtering through layers of sand, gravel, silt, and clay, as well as limestone and dolomite bedrock. This mix of geological materials naturally dissolves minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium, into the groundwater. Consequently, the supply is moderately mineralized, which is common for groundwater found in the Illinois River valley.

Homeowners in Swansea might observe mineral buildup on fixtures and appliances over time. This can lead to decreased efficiency in water-using appliances like water heaters and dishwashers. While the City of Edwardsville doesn't treat the water specifically for hardness, as calcium and magnesium don't pose health risks, a whole-house or point-of-use water softener could be helpful for those concerned about scale accumulation. Despite these characteristics, Swansea's water system consistently meets or exceeds EPA and Illinois EPA drinking water standards, with lead and copper levels well below action limits. The utility maintains an excellent compliance record.

Geology & Source: American Bottoms Underground Aquifer; Quaternary alluvial and glacial deposits over Paleozoic bedrock yield moderately to hard water

Other Illinois Water Reports

Belleville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Fairview Heights

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Shiloh

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

O'Fallon

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Swansea's water safe to drink?

Yes. Swansea's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Swansea?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Swansea's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Swansea compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Swansea (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Swansea is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.