Bradley Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.2 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
463.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.56
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 Bradley, your appliances are currently losing 28% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Bradley | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -68% |
| Washing Machine | 5.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -52% |
| Water Heater | 7.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -52% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Bradley compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bradley, Illinois | 209.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Kankakee, Illinois | 199.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bourbonnais, Illinois | 204 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Frankfort, Illinois | 201 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Richton Park, Illinois | 129 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Bradley compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bradley | 209.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Bradley home
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What Makes Bradley's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Bradley, Illinois, in Kankakee County — a Kankakee County city adjacent to Kankakee and Bourbonnais in the Kankakee River Valley of northeast Illinois — receives its municipal water from the Kankakee Water Division, drawing from the Kankakee River (Kankakee County) through the northeast Illinois water treatment system.
The very hard 209.5 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 463.4 mg/L reflect the northeast Illinois Kankakee River supply's intense Silurian Dolomite character — consistent with the La Grange-Cook County Lake Michigan supply (247.5 mg/L) but sourced from the river rather than the lake. The Kankakee River drainage crosses the Illinois-Indiana Till Plain — Silurian Niagara Dolomite (northeast Illinois dominant carbonate platform — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Muscatatuck Group (calcareous dolomite), and calcareous Pleistocene Kankakee moraine till (glacially ground dolomite). The pervasive Niagara Dolomite dissolution into the Kankakee River produces the very hard northeast Illinois supply.
At 209.5 mg/L with TDS 463, Bradley's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 7.3 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Kankakee County northeast Illinois manufacturing corridor and the Kankakee River PFAS background from the Chicago-south suburban industrial complex contribute to Bradley's readings.
Geology & Source: Bradley in Kankakee County draws from the Kankakee Water Division on the Kankakee River (Kankakee County, northeast Illinois) — the Kankakee drains the Illinois-Indiana Till Plain (Silurian Niagara Dolomite, Devonian Muscatatuck Group — calcareous) — Illinois Kankakee County Kankakee River Silurian-Devonian carbonate watershed produces very hard water at 209.5 mg/L with TDS 463.4 mg/L in this Kankakee County Illinois city.