Forest Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.6 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
370.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.49
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 Forest Park, your appliances are currently losing 24% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Forest Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -58% |
| Washing Machine | 6.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -43% |
| Water Heater | 8.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -45% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Forest Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forest Park, Illinois | 182 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Maywood, Illinois | 253.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Oak Park, Illinois | 274 mg/L | 9.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Berwyn, Illinois | 150.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Elmwood Park, Illinois | 243.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Forest Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forest Park | 182 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Forest Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Forest Park, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County suburb adjacent to Oak Park and Berwyn on the west Chicago metro — receives its water from Illinois American Water or the City of Chicago, drawing from Lake Michigan (Cook County) through the west Chicago metro distribution.
The hard 182 mg/L hardness and TDS of 370.1 mg/L reflect the northeast Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan supply's hard calcareous character — consistent with other Cook County west Chicago suburbs drawing from the Lake Michigan Silurian dolomite-influenced supply. The Lake Michigan at Cook County blends — Precambrian Canadian Shield (insoluble — dilutant via upper Great Lakes), Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (dolomitic — primary hardness contributor from the Great Lakes basin), and Ordovician calcareous formations (calcareous — secondary contributor).
At 182 mg/L, Forest Park's water is hard — scale builds steadily in kettles and appliances, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and water heaters should be descaled annually. Monthly descaling is recommended. The PFAS level of 6.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — O'Hare International Airport (Cook County — AFFF) and the Chicago metro industrial corridor contribute to Forest Park's readings.
Geology & Source: Forest Park in Cook County draws from the Illinois American Water on Lake Michigan (Cook County, northeast Illinois) — Lake Michigan at Cook County drains the Great Lakes Basin (Precambrian Laurentian Shield — insoluble) blended with minor Silurian Niagaran Dolomite dissolution — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Great Lakes Precambrian-Silurian watershed produces hard water at 182 mg/L with TDS 370.1 mg/L.