Hickory Hills Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Hickory Hills Water Company supplies the Village of Hickory Hills, Illinois, with water for its roughly 14,000 residents. Since 1988, the village has relied entirely on Lake Michigan for its water, drawing from the City of Chicago Department of Water Management's supply via the West Suburban Water Commission. All treatment, including chlorination for disinfection, is handled at Chicago's facilities. For questions, residents can contact the Public Works Department at 708-598-7855.

The water's journey begins in Lake Michigan, a vast freshwater reservoir within the Great Lakes watershed. This source is bordered by Pleistocene glacial drift and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, including Silurian-age dolomites and limestones. While the sheer volume of the lake and its inflows dilute minerals from these formations, some dissolved substances are introduced, particularly from minor groundwater seepage interacting with limestone aquifers. This natural dissolution process contributes to the water's characterized hardness.

Homeowners often notice the effects of this very hard water through significant scale buildup, which can reduce the efficiency and lifespan of pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. You might also see white deposits on faucets and spots on glassware. To manage these issues, regular appliance deliming, drain screens, and scale inhibitors can help. Installing a water softener is highly recommended to protect your home's plumbing and improve how effectively soap and detergents work. The water quality report indicates good overall quality, meeting all state and federal standards, though two contaminants were noted to exceed EPA health guidelines without reported by aggregators without reported in the recent report.