Hyde Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
16.4 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
749.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.75
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 Hyde Park, your appliances are currently losing 37% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Hyde Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -73% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Hyde Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hyde Park, Illinois | 280.5 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Kenwood, Illinois | 215.5 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Woodlawn, Illinois | 258.5 mg/L | 9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Grand Boulevard, Illinois | 108 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| South Shore, Illinois | 266.5 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Hyde Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hyde Park | 280.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Hyde Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County — a major south Chicago neighborhood and home of the University of Chicago (Hyde Park is one of the most intellectually and culturally significant neighborhoods in the United States; Hyde Park is the home of the University of Chicago (one of the most prestigious research universities in the world — the University of Chicago has produced more Nobel laureates (101 as of 2024) than almost any other institution in the world; the U of C is particularly noted for its economics department (the 'Chicago School of Economics' — one of the most influential schools of economic thought in the 20th century, associated with Milton Friedman, Gary Becker, George Stigler, Ronald Coase, and many others)); Hyde Park is the home of Barack Obama (the 44th President of the United States — lived in Hyde Park for much of his adult life, taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, and represented Hyde Park in the Illinois State Senate; the Obama Presidential Center is being constructed in Jackson Park in Hyde Park/Woodlawn)); Hyde Park is the site of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (one of the most important world's fairs in history — the White City of the 1893 fair was built in Hyde Park's Jackson Park), a diverse Cook County community with a significant African-American, academic, and diverse urban professional population — draws its municipal water supply from Lake Michigan via the Chicago Department of Water Management. Water hardness in Hyde Park measures 280.5 mg/L — classified as very hard.
Hyde Park's very hard supply reflects the south Chicago Cook County Lake Michigan corridor's calcareous character. The Lake Michigan watershed at Chicago carries dissolved calcium from the Great Lakes carbonate basin, and limited softening produces the very hard 280.5 mg/L.
At 280.5 mg/L, Hyde Park residents face significant hard water challenges. Regular water softeners and descaling are strongly recommended. Chicago Department of Water Management consistently delivers water meeting all Illinois EPA and federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Lake supply from the Lake Michigan via the Chicago Department of Water Management — the Cook County south Chicago Hyde Park corridor (Silurian calcareous Niagaran Dolomite — the calcareous south Chicago Cook County Lake Michigan corridor; limited softening); very hard at 280.5 mg/L in Cook County.