Bridgeport Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
501.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.59
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 Bridgeport, your appliances are currently losing 29% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Bridgeport | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -73% |
| Washing Machine | 5.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -54% |
| Water Heater | 6.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -55% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Bridgeport compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bridgeport, Illinois | 220 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Chicago, Illinois | 144 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Lower West Side, Illinois | 189 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| McKinley Park, Illinois | 267.5 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| New City, Illinois | 208.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Bridgeport compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bridgeport | 220 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Bridgeport home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Bridgeport's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Bridgeport, Illinois, the Lawrence County seat — a major southeast Illinois oil country community (Bridgeport is the Lawrence County seat in the heart of the southeast Illinois oil producing region — Lawrence County has one of the longest histories of petroleum production in Illinois, with oil wells operating in the area since the 1900s; Bridgeport is a classic small American oil town with a distinctive petroleum extraction heritage), a diverse Lawrence County community with a primarily small-town working-class population, located in the Illinois Wabash River Valley on the Indiana state line, and adjacent to the historic Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial — draws its municipal water supply from the Wabash River via the City of Bridgeport Water Division. Water hardness in Bridgeport measures 220 mg/L — classified as very hard.
Bridgeport's very hard supply reflects the southeast Illinois Wabash River Valley's highly calcareous Paleozoic carbonate geology. The Wabash River at Bridgeport–Lawrence County draws from: the Devonian–Mississippian Madison Group (highly calcareous limestone and dolomite — the primary deep carbonate of the Illinois Basin); the Pennsylvanian Springfield Coal Measures (calcareous-moderate limestone); and the Illinois–Indiana border zone calcareous glacial till (Wisconsin Age Erie Lobe carbonate-rich till). City of Bridgeport applies limited treatment, producing the very hard 220 mg/L.
At 220 mg/L, Bridgeport residents face severe hard water challenges. Weekly descaling and appliance protection measures are strongly recommended. City of Bridgeport Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Illinois EPA and federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Wabash River via the City of Bridgeport Water Division — the Lawrence County southeast Illinois Wabash River Valley (Pennsylvanian calcareous-moderate coal-bearing limestone and Devonian–Mississippian calcareous Madison Group limestone and dolomite — the highly calcareous southeast Illinois Carboniferous and Devonian carbonate of the Illinois Basin; Wabash River supply with limited treatment); very hard supply at 220 mg/L in Lawrence County.