Bloomington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
240.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.13
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Bloomington, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Bloomington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -7% |
| Washing Machine | 11.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -2% |
| Water Heater | 13.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -9% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Bloomington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bloomington, Indiana | 50 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟢 Soft | river |
| Martinsville, Indiana | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 0 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Bedford, Indiana | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 0 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Plainfield, Indiana | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 35.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Franklin, Indiana | 351 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Bloomington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bloomington | 50 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Bloomington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) provides drinking water to Bloomington in Monroe County, Indiana, serving ZIP codes including 47401, 47403, 47404, 47405, 47406, and 47408. The sole source is surface water from Lake Monroe (Monroe Reservoir), the largest man-made lake in Indiana at 10,750 acres, located nine miles southeast of the city. Water is treated at the Monroe Water Treatment Plant (MWTP), a conventional settling and filtration facility operated by CBU, featuring multiple disinfection stages before distribution.
The Salt Creek watershed, spanning 441 square miles, supplies Lake Monroe amid Mississippian limestone-dominated geology, including the St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve Limestones, which contribute dissolved calcium and magnesium to surface waters via dissolution and runoff. Karst features enhance mineral dissolution into streams feeding the reservoir. Despite this limestone geology typical of hard-water areas, the reservoir's characteristics and treatment at MWTP result in a soft water supply.
As soft water, Bloomington's supply minimizes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers, reducing maintenance needs and extending appliance life. Soap lathers easily and no home water softener is typically required, though monitoring for corrosion in older plumbing is advisable. The 2024 annual report confirms compliance with all federal standards; 13 contaminants including disinfectant byproducts and total organic carbon were detected, while over 70 others — including PFAS — were undetected per the EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. Water is noncorrosive with lead/copper compliance.
Geology & Source: Salt Creek watershed over Mississippian karst — St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve Limestones dissolve calcium and magnesium into surface water; Lake Monroe treatment yields soft supply despite limestone geology
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bloomington's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Bloomington?
How does Bloomington compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Bloomington is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.