Fox Lake Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.4 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
411.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.52
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 Fox Lake, your appliances are currently losing 26% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fox Lake | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -62% |
| Washing Machine | 6.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -47% |
| Water Heater | 7.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -48% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fox Lake compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fox Lake, Illinois | 194.5 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Round Lake Beach, Illinois | 180.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Round Lake, Illinois | 180.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| McHenry, Illinois | 264.5 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Antioch, Illinois | 249.5 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Fox Lake compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fox Lake | 194.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fox Lake's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fox Lake, Illinois, in Lake County — a Lake County village adjacent to Round Lake and Antioch on the Fox Chain O'Lakes in northeast Illinois — receives its water from the Village of Fox Lake Water Department, drawing from the Fox Chain O'Lakes through the northeast Illinois distribution.
The hard 194.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 411.3 mg/L reflect the Lake County supply's hard dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Ordovician Galena Dolomite are highly dolomitic formations in the Illinois Dolomite Plateau, and the Fox Chain O'Lakes concentrates dissolved mineral content from the north Illinois limestone corridor (compare Round Lake IL: 190/401 in Lake County comparable; Antioch IL: 198/421 in Lake County comparable; Fox Lake consistent hard from the same Lake County Fox Chain O'Lakes Silurian dolomitic supply). The Fox Chain O'Lakes — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Galena Dolomite (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Lake Michigan till plain (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 194.5 mg/L with TDS 411, Fox Lake's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.8 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the Village of Fox Lake's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Fox Lake in Lake County draws from the Fox Lake Water on the Fox Chain O'Lakes (Lake County, northeast Illinois) — the Fox Chain at Lake County draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Ordovician Galena Dolomite (calcareous) — Illinois Lake County Fox Chain O'Lakes Silurian dolomitic supply produces hard water at 194.5 mg/L with TDS 411.3 mg/L.