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

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

Addison Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

8.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

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

Appliance	In Addison	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 Addison compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Addison, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Wood Dale, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river
Villa Park, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Bensenville, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river
Lombard, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Addison compares to the USA average

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

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What Makes Addison's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 484.9 mg/LpH: 8.3

The Village of Addison Public Water Works serves the Village of Addison in DuPage County, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago. Treated water is purchased from the City of Chicago via the DuPage Water Commission, sourced from Lake Michigan at the Jardine Water Purification Plant. This supply is blended with local groundwater drawn from wells tapping glacial drift and bedrock aquifers. The service area covers approximately 6.2 square miles, providing water to over 36,000 residents and businesses across Addison and its surrounding communities.

Water originates from the Lake Michigan watershed, the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area, with glacial origins shaping its naturally soft chemistry. Local groundwater interacts with Paleozoic limestone and dolomite formations, such as those in the Galena-Platteville Group, which contribute dissolved minerals. Carbonate rocks release calcium and magnesium ions into the blended supply, imparting a hard character that contrasts with Lake Michigan's very soft glacial meltwater profile.

Hard water in Addison promotes scale buildup in appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Boilers and pipes may accumulate deposits, potentially increasing energy costs. Regular descaling with vinegar, installing drain screens, and flushing heaters annually help mitigate these effects; a water softener is recommended to prevent spotting on fixtures and prolong appliance life. Treatment at Chicago's plant involves chlorination, fluoridation, and softening, with pH typically 7.5–8.5; seven contaminants exceed health guidelines per recent monitoring, and lead levels are maintained within EPA limits via corrosion control.

Geology & Source: Lake Michigan glacial surface water blended with glacial drift aquifer groundwater; Paleozoic limestone and dolomite — Galena-Platteville Group — release calcium and magnesium, elevating hardness above the soft Lake Michigan baseline

Other Illinois Water Reports

Wood Dale

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Villa Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Bensenville

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Lombard

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

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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 Addison's water safe to drink?

Yes. Addison'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 Addison?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Addison'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 Addison compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Addison (≈ 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 Addison 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.