Glen Ellyn Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
15 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
645.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.68
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 Glen Ellyn, your appliances are currently losing 34% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Glen Ellyn | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -66% |
| Water Heater | 5.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -65% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Glen Ellyn compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Glen Ellyn, Illinois | 256.5 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Glendale Heights, Illinois | 267.5 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Wheaton, Illinois | 203 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Lombard, Illinois | 172 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Carol Stream, Illinois | 113.5 mg/L | 4.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Glen Ellyn compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Glen Ellyn | 256.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Glen Ellyn home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Glen Ellyn's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Glen Ellyn, Illinois, in DuPage County — a major west Chicago suburban community (Glen Ellyn is a significant DuPage County village — a west Chicago suburb in the DuPage County I-88 and Route 53 corridor adjacent to Wheaton and Lombard; Glen Ellyn is one of the most affluent and desirable communities in the west Chicago suburban belt, known for its beautiful downtown Village Green (one of the most charming downtown suburban areas in the Chicago metro), its proximity to the College of DuPage (the largest community college in Illinois by enrollment — one of the most comprehensive and well-regarded community colleges in the Midwest; the College of DuPage is a major cultural and educational center for the DuPage County community), and its strong public school system (Glen Ellyn School District 41 and Glenbard West High School are among the most highly regarded public schools in DuPage County)), a diverse DuPage County community with a primarily upper-middle-class professional, Irish-American, and suburban family population, adjacent to Wheaton and Lombard in the west DuPage County corridor — draws its municipal water supply from Lake Michigan via the DuPage Water Commission. Water hardness in Glen Ellyn measures 256.5 mg/L — classified as very hard.
Glen Ellyn's very hard supply reflects the west Chicago DuPage County Lake Michigan distribution zone's very limited softening. The DuPage Water Commission distributes Lake Michigan supply to the west Chicago DuPage County Glen Ellyn zone with very limited softening, producing the very hard 256.5 mg/L.
At 256.5 mg/L, Glen Ellyn residents face significant hard water challenges. Regular water softeners and descaling are strongly recommended. DuPage Water Commission consistently delivers water meeting all Illinois EPA and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Lake supply from the Lake Michigan via the DuPage Water Commission (Illinois American Water) — the DuPage County west Chicago suburban Glen Ellyn corridor (Silurian calcareous Niagaran Dolomite — the extremely calcareous west Chicago DuPage County Silurian dolomite with Lake Michigan supply; very limited softening); very hard supply at 256.5 mg/L in DuPage County.