Alsip Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
13.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
562.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.63
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 Alsip, your appliances are currently losing 31% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Alsip | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -79% |
| Washing Machine | 4.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -59% |
| Water Heater | 6.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -59% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Alsip compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Alsip, Illinois | 236 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Mount Greenwood, Illinois | 168 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Oak Lawn, Illinois | 273 mg/L | 9.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Midlothian, Illinois | 116.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Chicago Ridge, Illinois | 173 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Alsip compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Alsip | 236 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Alsip's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Alsip, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County village in the south suburban Chicago corridor adjacent to Blue Island and Merrionette Park, part of the Chicago southwest suburban ring — receives its municipal water from Illinois American Water or the Southwest Water Commission, drawing from Lake Michigan through the Chicago metropolitan water distribution system serving southwest Cook County.
The hard 236 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 562.5 mg/L reflect the Lake Michigan south Cook County supply — consistent with the broader Chicago metropolitan Lake Michigan water (Lake Forest: 259 mg/L; Homewood: 253.5 mg/L). Lake Michigan's hardness across the Chicago metro reflects the Silurian Niagara Dolomite belt underlying the lower Lake Michigan watershed and calcareous Pleistocene glacial till from the Great Lakes basin carbonate platform — producing the hard, high-TDS water characteristic across the entire Chicago metropolitan service area.
At 236 mg/L, Alsip's water is hard — scale builds rapidly in appliances and plumbing. A water softener is recommended. Dishes spot heavily, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium deposits quickly. The PFAS level of 8.2 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the Calumet Region industrial-chemical complex (south Cook County — a historically heavy industrial corridor with major PFAS-class chemical manufacturing), the Joliet Arsenal legacy, and the southwest Chicago Lake Michigan PFAS corridor contribute to Alsip's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Alsip in Cook County draws from Illinois American Water or the Southwest Water Commission on Lake Michigan — Lake Michigan receives drainage from the Great Lakes basin (Silurian Niagara Dolomite, Precambrian Laurentian Shield, calcareous Pleistocene glacial till) — Lake Michigan Silurian dolomite carbonate drainage produces hard water at 236 mg/L with high TDS 562.5 mg/L in this Cook County Illinois village.