How does Homer Glen's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Homer Glen (108 mg/L) is 43 mg/L softer than average.

Homer Glen Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

108mg/L

Moderately Hard

6.3 grains per gallon

Source

groundwater

pH Level

8.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

628.6 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.29

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

108mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

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 Homer Glen, your appliances are currently losing 14% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Homer Glen	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6 yrs	8.5 yrs	-29%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	11.3 yrs	15 yrs	-25%

Regional Water Comparison

How Homer Glen compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Homer Glen, Illinois	108 mg/L	8.8 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	groundwater
Goodings Grove, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	9.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Mokena, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Orland Park, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
New Lenox, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Homer Glen compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Homer Glen	108 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Homer Glen's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 628.6 mg/LpH: 8.5

Homer Glen, Illinois is served by Illinois American Water (PWSID: IL1970100), supplying the Village of Homer Glen and portions of Orland, Lemont, and Homer Townships in Will County, serving approximately 20,237 people. The utility sources all water from Lake Michigan, purchasing it from the City of Chicago through the Village of Bedford Park and American Lake Water. This surface water supply is treated to meet all applicable federal and state drinking water standards before distribution.

Lake Michigan overlies Paleozoic dolomite and limestone formations of Silurian and Ordovician age. These carbonate rock formations, combined with mineral-rich glacial deposits throughout the Great Lakes watershed, dissolve into the water column and contribute to its mineral content. The moderately hard character of Homer Glen's water directly reflects this underlying carbonate geology and the mineralised nature of the Great Lakes system.

At moderately hard levels, Homer Glen residents may notice scale buildup on fixtures and in water heaters and dishwashers, with slightly reduced soap and detergent efficiency. A water softener provides noticeable benefits for laundry, bathing, and appliance longevity, though it is not strictly required. The 2025 Annual Consumer Confidence Report indicates a pH of 7.9; the utility reports zero MCL violations, though 2 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines (MCLGs) prompt recommendation of certified water filters for vulnerable populations including children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals.

Geology & Source: Lake Michigan surface water; basin overlies Silurian and Ordovician Paleozoic dolomite and limestone — carbonate geology and mineral-rich glacial deposits dissolve into the water column; moderately hard

Other Illinois Water Reports

Goodings Grove

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Mokena

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Orland Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

New Lenox

≈ 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 Homer Glen's water safe to drink?

Yes. Homer Glen's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 108 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Homer Glen?

Homer Glen's water is moderately hard at 108 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Homer Glen compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Homer Glen (108 mg/L) is 43 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 Homer Glen 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.