Chatham Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
297.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.42
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 Chatham, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Chatham | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -48% |
| Washing Machine | 7.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -36% |
| Water Heater | 9.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -38% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Chatham compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Chatham, Illinois | 158.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Greater Grand Crossing, Illinois | 222.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Woodlawn, Illinois | 258.5 mg/L | 9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| South Shore, Illinois | 266.5 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Auburn Gresham, Illinois | 222.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Chatham compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Chatham | 158.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Chatham's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Chatham, Illinois, in Sangamon County — a major central Illinois Springfield suburban community (Chatham is a significant Sangamon County village — one of the most rapidly growing Springfield suburban communities along the US-36/IL-4 southwest Springfield corridor; Chatham has grown dramatically as Springfield's suburban sprawl expanded, attracting primarily middle-class and upper-middle-class families seeking more space and lower taxes than Springfield proper), a diverse Sangamon County community with a primarily working-class and middle-class suburban population, adjacent to Springfield (the Illinois state capital) in the south Sangamon County corridor, home of significant suburban residential development, and one of the growth communities of the Springfield metro — draws its municipal water supply from the Mahomet Aquifer via the Village of Chatham Water Division. Water hardness in Chatham measures 158.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
Chatham's hard supply reflects the central Illinois Sangamon County Mahomet Aquifer's calcareous character. The Mahomet Buried Valley aquifer at Chatham–Sangamon County draws from the Quaternary calcareous-moderate Mahomet Sand (deposited in a buried Pleistocene river valley — the primary aquifer for central Illinois) and Silurian Racine Dolomite (calcareous). Village of Chatham applies limited softening, producing the hard 158.5 mg/L.
At 158.5 mg/L, Chatham residents face regular hard water challenges. Monthly descaling and water softeners are recommended. Village of Chatham Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Illinois EPA and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Mahomet Aquifer (Mahomet Sand) via the Village of Chatham Water Division — the Sangamon County central Illinois Springfield suburban Chatham corridor (Quaternary calcareous-moderate Mahomet Buried Valley aquifer and Silurian calcareous Racine Dolomite — the calcareous-moderate central Illinois buried valley aquifer; limited softening); hard supply at 158.5 mg/L in Sangamon County.