How does Terre Haute's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Terre Haute (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

Terre Haute Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

8.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

383 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · 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 Terre Haute, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Terre Haute	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Terre Haute compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Terre Haute, Indiana	≈ 180+ mg/L	5.9 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Greencastle, Indiana	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	mixed
Danville, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Charleston, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	3.2 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Crawfordsville, Indiana	≈ 180+ mg/L	7.7 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Terre Haute compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Terre Haute	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Terre Haute home

Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →

Shop Now

What Makes Terre Haute's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 383 mg/LpH: 8.1

Indiana American Water - Terre Haute Operations serves customers in Terre Haute, Marion Heights, and townships including Lost Creek, Honey Creek, Otter Creek, Sugar Creek, Riley, and Linton in Vigo County, Indiana. The utility supplies an average of 8 million gallons per day from three vertical groundwater wells and one horizontal radial collector well, with no named surface reservoirs or rivers used as primary sources. Water is treated with chloramines for disinfection throughout the distribution system.

The groundwater sources lie within the Wabash River watershed, influenced by glacial deposits and the underlying Pennsylvanian bedrock of the Illinois Basin. Key formations include limestone and sandstone layers from the Middle and Upper Pennsylvanian periods, rich in calcium and magnesium-bearing minerals. This carbonate-rich, fractured aquifer geology imparts a very hard character through natural dissolution; mineral content can fluctuate temporarily with rainfall or snowmelt dilution, but shallower sources remain highly mineralized.

Very hard water promotes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency, shortening appliance lifespan, and increasing energy costs. Dry skin, soap scum, and white residue on fixtures are common. Regular deliming and use of scale inhibitors are advised; a water softener is strongly recommended to protect plumbing and appliances. The utility maintains lead and copper compliance with 90% of samples below action levels; hardness is not removed in treatment as calcium and magnesium pose no health risk.

Geology & Source: Glacial outwash and alluvial aquifers overlying Pennsylvanian-age Illinois Basin limestone and sandstone; Middle and Upper Pennsylvanian carbonate-rich formations dissolve calcium and magnesium — produces very hard supply

Other Indiana Water Reports

Greencastle

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Danville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Charleston

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Crawfordsville

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very 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 Terre Haute's water safe to drink?

Yes. Terre Haute's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Terre Haute?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Terre Haute'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 45%.

How does Terre Haute compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Terre Haute (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Terre Haute 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.