Country Club Hills Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
16 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
718.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.73
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 Country Club Hills, your appliances are currently losing 36% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Country Club Hills | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -71% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Country Club Hills compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Country Club Hills, Illinois | 273.5 mg/L | 9.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Hazel Crest, Illinois | 186.5 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Markham, Illinois | 233 mg/L | 8.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Oak Forest, Illinois | 267.5 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Homewood, Illinois | 253.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Country Club Hills compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Country Club Hills | 273.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Country Club Hills's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Country Club Hills, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County city adjacent to Homewood and Olympia Fields in the south suburban Chicago metro — receives its municipal water from the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA) water system, drawing from Lake Michigan through the South Chicago Heights treatment plant (Cook County).
The very hard 273.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 718.6 mg/L reflect the south suburban Chicago Lake Michigan supply character. Lake Michigan drains the Great Lakes basin — Silurian Niagara Dolomite (the dominant Great Lakes carbonate platform, outcropping across Michigan-Indiana-Wisconsin), Ordovician Galena Dolomite and Platteville Limestone (calcareous), and calcareous Pleistocene Lake Michigan Lobe till (ground-up dolomite and limestone). The south Chicago suburban distribution infrastructure (older pipe networks — additional mineral leaching) may also contribute to the very elevated TDS relative to central Chicago readings.
At 273.5 mg/L, Country Club Hills' water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on heating surfaces and appliances, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 9.5 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the south Cook County industrial corridor (Ford Heights, Lynwood industrial parks), the Chicago Southland PFAS legacy from heavy industry, and the Great Lakes PFAS background contribute to Country Club Hills' elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Country Club Hills in Cook County draws from South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association on Lake Michigan (Cook County, south suburban Chicago) — Lake Michigan drains the Great Lakes basin (Silurian Niagara Dolomite, Ordovician Galena-Platteville, calcareous Pleistocene Lake Michigan Lobe till) — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Great Lakes carbonate basin produces very hard water at 273.5 mg/L with TDS 718.6 mg/L in this Cook County Illinois city.