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

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

Berwyn Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

275.4 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 Berwyn, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Berwyn	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 Berwyn compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Berwyn, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Forest Park, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river
Oak Park, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Cicero, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Lyons, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Berwyn compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Berwyn	≈ 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 Berwyn's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 275.4 mg/LpH: 7.9

Berwyn Municipal Water Company serves the city of Berwyn in Cook County, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago. The utility purchases treated drinking water from the City of Chicago Department of Water Management, sourced from Lake Michigan and allocated through Chicago's Jardine Water Purification Plant and other facilities. The service area covers approximately 6 square miles, providing water to over 50,000 residents. Chicago's treatment process involves screening, chemical coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, sand filtration, and disinfection before water enters Berwyn's distribution network.

The Lake Michigan watershed is fed by rivers and precipitation across the Great Lakes Basin. The underlying regional geology features Paleozoic sedimentary rocks — notably Silurian dolomite and Devonian limestone in the Michigan Basin — which interact with surface water to release dissolved calcium and magnesium. This natural mineral dissolution from carbonate bedrock shapes a hard supply character in the water delivered to Berwyn, without reliance on any groundwater aquifer.

Hard water leads to scale buildup in pipes, heaters, and fixtures, reducing efficiency and lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. Soap lathering is reduced, causing spots on dishes and dry skin. Regular descaling of appliances and flushing water heaters is advised; a water softener is recommended to protect plumbing. The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) found no violations, with water deemed safe per federal standards, though TapWaterData rates it C (fair, 70/100) due to 3 contaminants above health guidelines. Berwyn sources note potential trace contaminants including MTBE and vinyl chloride; pH and lead/copper remain compliant.

Geology & Source: Lake Michigan Great Lakes watershed; Silurian dolomite and Devonian limestone in Michigan Basin bedrock; calcium/magnesium dissolution from Paleozoic carbonates yields hard surface water supply

Other Illinois Water Reports

Forest Park

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Oak Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Cicero

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Lyons

≈ 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 Berwyn's water safe to drink?

Yes. Berwyn'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 Berwyn?

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

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