How does Gurnee's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Gurnee (146.5 mg/L) is 4 mg/L softer than average.

Gurnee Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

146.5mg/L

Hard

8.6 grains per gallon

Source

river

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

264.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.39

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

146.5mg/L as CaCO₃Hard

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 Gurnee, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Gurnee	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Gurnee compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Gurnee, Illinois	146.5 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Waukegan, Illinois	130 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Beach Park, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
North Chicago, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Gages Lake, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Gurnee compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Gurnee	146.5 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Gurnee's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 264.2 mg/LpH: 7.9

The Village of Gurnee, Illinois operates a public water utility serving the community in Lake County. Gurnee's water supply is sourced from surface water purchased from regional suppliers; the utility does not operate its own treatment plant, instead receiving pre-treated surface water. The Public Works Department handles water quality inquiries, with contact available through the village's 2025 Water Quality Report.

Gurnee lies in the Lake Michigan watershed, a region underlain by Silurian and Ordovician carbonate bedrock — dolomite and limestone. Northern Illinois near Lake Michigan generally benefits from the lake's large freshwater reservoir, which produces a softer supply compared to southern and central Illinois. The purchased surface water means Gurnee's water chemistry reflects both the geological character of the source watershed and any blending of surface and groundwater contributions by the supplying utility.

Residents should monitor for scale buildup on fixtures and appliances characteristic of the region's water. The utility's disinfection process employs hypochlorite, ozone, and UV light treatment. The hardness profile of purchased water can vary seasonally; residents seeking softening guidance should contact the utility directly. Gurnee's 2025 Water Quality Report is available through the Village of Gurnee's official website and provides detailed compliance data and contaminant testing results.

Geology & Source: Lake Michigan watershed — Silurian and Ordovician dolomite and limestone bedrock underlie northern Illinois; surface water purchasing tempers regional carbonate hardness with Lake Michigan's relatively soft freshwater influence

Other Illinois Water Reports

Waukegan

130 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Beach Park

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

North Chicago

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Gages Lake

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gurnee's water safe to drink?

Yes. Gurnee's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 146.5 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Gurnee?

At 146.5 mg/L (Hard), Gurnee's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Gurnee compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Gurnee (146.5 mg/L) is 4 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Gurnee is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.