Barrington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
186.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.31
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 Barrington, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Barrington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -32% |
| Washing Machine | 9.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -22% |
| Water Heater | 11 yrs | 15 yrs | -27% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Barrington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Barrington, Illinois | 116 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Lake Zurich, Illinois | 270.5 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Wauconda, Illinois | 162.5 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Palatine, Illinois | 148.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Cary, Illinois | 119 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Barrington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Barrington | 116 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Barrington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Barrington, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County village adjacent to Inverness and South Barrington in the northwest Chicago suburbs — receives its water from Illinois American Water, drawing from Lake Michigan through the northeast Illinois distribution.
The moderately hard 116 mg/L hardness and TDS of 186.3 mg/L reflect the Cook County supply's moderate Lake Michigan dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Ordovician Galena Dolomite are highly dolomitic formations in the Illinois Dolomite Plateau; Barrington's northwest Cook County distribution zone receives Lake Michigan supply at moderately lower hardness than the south Cook County average (compare Inverness IL: 113/179 in Cook County comparable; South Barrington IL: 119/193 in Cook County comparable; Barrington consistent moderate from the same Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian dolomitic supply). The Lake Michigan supply — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Galena Dolomite (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Lake Michigan glaciolacustrine sediment (calcareous — minor TDS).
At 116 mg/L with TDS 186, Barrington's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 4.2 ppt is moderate — a certified drinking water filter provides added protection. Review Illinois American Water's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Barrington in Cook County draws from the Illinois American Water on the Lake Michigan supply (Cook County, northeast Illinois) — Lake Michigan at Cook County draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Ordovician Galena Dolomite (calcareous) — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian dolomitic supply produces moderately hard water at 116 mg/L with TDS 186.3 mg/L.