Bourbonnais Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
444 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.54
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 Bourbonnais, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Bourbonnais | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -66% |
| Washing Machine | 6.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -49% |
| Water Heater | 7.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -51% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Bourbonnais compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bourbonnais, Illinois | 204 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bradley, Illinois | 209.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Kankakee, Illinois | 199.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Frankfort, Illinois | 201 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| New Lenox, Illinois | 213.5 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Bourbonnais compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bourbonnais | 204 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Bourbonnais's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Bourbonnais, Illinois, in Kankakee County — a Kankakee County village adjacent to Bradley and Kankakee, home of Olivet Nazarene University, in the Kankakee River valley of northeast Illinois — receives its municipal water from the Bourbonnais Water Division or from Kankakee Water, drawing from the Kankakee River or municipal wells in the Kankakee County supply.
The hard 204 mg/L hardness and TDS of 444.0 mg/L reflect the Kankakee River valley's dolomite carbonate character. The Kankakee River drains the Kankakee Sand Plain of northeast Illinois-northwest Indiana — underlain by the Silurian Niagara Dolomite (thick dolomite platform — primary hardness source), the Ordovician Galena Group dolomite, and calcareous Pleistocene Wisconsin outwash sand and gravel (derived from glacial grinding of the Silurian dolomite bedrock). The result is the hard water characteristic of the Kankakee Valley corridor.
At 204 mg/L, Bourbonnais' water is hard — scale builds rapidly in appliances and plumbing. A water softener is recommended. The PFAS level of 7.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Naval Air Station Glenview legacy (Cook County — AFFF in the Kankakee-Illinois River watershed), the Kankakee County manufacturing corridor, and the northeast Illinois PFAS complex contribute to Bourbonnais' elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Bourbonnais in Kankakee County draws from the Bourbonnais Water Division or Kankakee Water on the Kankakee River (Kankakee County) — the Kankakee drains the Kankakee Sand Plain (Silurian Niagara Dolomite, calcareous Pleistocene outwash) — Illinois Kankakee Valley Silurian dolomite and Pleistocene outwash drainage produces hard water at 204 mg/L with TDS 444 mg/L in this Kankakee County Illinois village.