Evergreen Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
15.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
705.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.72
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 Evergreen Park, your appliances are currently losing 36% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Evergreen Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -70% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Evergreen Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Evergreen Park, Illinois | 270.5 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Mount Greenwood, Illinois | 168 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Ashburn, Illinois | 270 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Morgan Park, Illinois | 151 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Auburn Gresham, Illinois | 222.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Evergreen Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Evergreen Park | 270.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Evergreen Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Evergreen Park, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County village adjacent to Chicago's Beverly neighborhood on the southwest Chicago border, a working-class Catholic south suburban community adjacent to the city — receives its municipal water from Illinois American Water or the Village of Evergreen Park, which draws from Lake Michigan through the Chicago MWRD distribution system, serving the southwest Cook County communities including Evergreen Park.
The extremely hard 270.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 705.5 mg/L reflect Lake Michigan water's Great Lakes carbonate character combined with Chicago-area treatment chemistry. The Great Lakes basin is underlain by the Silurian Niagara Dolomite and Devonian carbonate formations that ring the Michigan Basin — Lake Michigan's watershed drainage adds dissolved calcium and magnesium, producing the moderately-to-hard water characteristic of the Chicago metropolitan supply. However, the extreme TDS of 706 mg/L suggests deep Silurian dolomite groundwater blending in some service areas, or that Evergreen Park may draw from a deep Silurian dolomite well system similar to Lake Zurich (270.5 mg/L, TDS 705 mg/L) rather than Lake Michigan.
At 270.5 mg/L with TDS 706 mg/L, Evergreen Park's water is extremely hard. A whole-house water softener is essential and kitchen reverse osmosis filtration is strongly recommended. The PFAS level of 9.4 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the Chicago industrial corridor (south side steel mills, Ford Chicago Assembly), the Cook County manufacturing belt, and the broader Chicago PFAS industrial legacy contribute to Evergreen Park's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Evergreen Park in Cook County draws from the Village of Evergreen Park Water or Illinois American Water on Lake Michigan (Chicago MWRD system) — Lake Michigan water from the Great Lakes is treated at Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District intake cribs — Great Lakes Lake Michigan surface water with Silurian dolomite watershed character produces extremely hard water at 270.5 mg/L with high TDS 706 mg/L in this Cook County Illinois village.