Waterloo Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
301.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.43
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 Waterloo, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Waterloo | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -49% |
| Washing Machine | 7.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -36% |
| Water Heater | 9.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -39% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Waterloo compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Waterloo, Illinois | 159.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Columbia, Illinois | 283 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Oakville, Missouri | 100 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Lemay, Missouri | 183.5 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Cahokia, Illinois | 194 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Waterloo compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Waterloo | 159.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Waterloo's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Waterloo, Illinois, in Monroe County — the Monroe County seat adjacent to Belleville and Red Bud in southwest Illinois — receives its water from the City of Waterloo Water Department, drawing from the Kaskaskia River watershed through the southwest Illinois distribution.
The hard 159.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 301.1 mg/L reflect the Monroe County supply's hard southwest Illinois limestone character — the Mississippian Burlington Limestone and Devonian Cedar Valley Formation are calcareous formations in the south Illinois limestone plateau; the Kaskaskia River at Monroe County acquires substantial dissolved mineral content from its southwest Illinois carbonate drainage (compare Belleville IL: 156/292 in St. Clair County comparable; Red Bud IL: 162/310 in Randolph County comparable; Waterloo consistent hard from the same Monroe County Kaskaskia River Mississippian calcareous supply). The Kaskaskia watershed at Monroe County — Mississippian Burlington Limestone (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Cedar Valley Formation (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Kaskaskia River alluvium (calcareous — minor TDS).
At 159.5 mg/L with TDS 301, Waterloo's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.7 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Waterloo's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Waterloo in Monroe County draws from the Waterloo Water on the Kaskaskia River supply (Monroe County, southwest Illinois) — the southwest Illinois limestone plain at Monroe County draws from Mississippian Burlington Limestone (calcareous) and Devonian Cedar Valley Formation (calcareous) — Illinois Monroe County Kaskaskia River Mississippian calcareous supply produces hard water at 159.5 mg/L with TDS 301.1 mg/L.