Arlington Heights Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
664.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
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 Arlington Heights, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Arlington Heights | 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 Arlington Heights compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Arlington Heights, Illinois | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Rolling Meadows, Illinois | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Prospect Heights, Illinois | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Mount Prospect, Illinois | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Palatine, Illinois | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Arlington Heights compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Arlington Heights | ≈ 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 Arlington Heights's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The Village of Arlington Heights Public Water Utility serves approximately 79,000 residents across Arlington Heights in Cook County, Illinois. Water is sourced exclusively from surface water purchased from the City of Evanston, ultimately originating from Lake Michigan. There are no local treatment plants; the utility receives conventionally treated and chlorinated water via interconnection with Evanston's system. The utility can be reached at 847-368-5250, Village of Arlington Heights, 33 South Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Water quality is rated 80/100 with no EPA violations noted.
The Lake Michigan watershed spans multiple states, fed by rivers traversing glacial till and Paleozoic bedrock dominated by Ordovician and Silurian limestone and dolomite formations. Pleistocene glacial deposits overlay these bedrock units, influencing recharge to the lake. Prolonged contact with carbonate-rich formations dissolves calcium and magnesium-bearing minerals, imparting a characteristically hard water quality to the supply — typical of Great Lakes region surface waters influenced by carbonate geology.
Hard water in Arlington Heights causes scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and pipes, reducing efficiency and lifespan while increasing energy costs. Soap scum forms readily, causing spots on glassware and drier laundry. Regular descaling of appliances and fixtures is recommended; a water softener is advised to mitigate these effects and protect plumbing. Treatment by Evanston involves conventional filtration and chlorine disinfection; no specific pH, lead/copper, or PFAS data was available in the source material.
Geology & Source: Lake Michigan via City of Evanston; Paleozoic Ordovician and Silurian limestone and dolomite bedrock under glacial drift — calcium and magnesium dissolution produces hard water
Other Illinois Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arlington Heights's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Arlington Heights?
How does Arlington Heights compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Arlington Heights 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.