Irving Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
river
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
285 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Irving Park, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Irving Park | 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 Irving Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Irving Park, Illinois | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Albany Park, Illinois | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Portage Park, Illinois | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Avondale, Illinois | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Belmont Cragin, Illinois | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Irving Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Irving Park | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Irving Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Irving Park, a neighborhood within the City of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, receives its water supply from the Chicago Department of Water Management. The primary source is Lake Michigan, drawn through two major intake cribs located about 2–3 miles offshore. Water is processed at the Jardine Water Purification Plant (formerly South Water Purification Plant) and the Zimmerman Water Filtration Plant on the south side, together serving over 5 million people in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The system employs screening, chemical coagulation, sedimentation, dual-media filtration, and chlorination to meet drinking water standards.
The Lake Michigan watershed lies within the Great Lakes Basin, where glacial till, Silurian dolomites, and Devonian limestones form the regional geology. These carbonate-rich formations dissolve slowly into the lake water, elevating calcium and magnesium through bedrock weathering and shoreline erosion. Seasonal lake turnover and tributary inflows further influence the mineral profile, creating a consistently hard, mineralised supply. No groundwater aquifer is involved — the entire supply is surface water from the lake.
Hard water promotes limescale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan and increasing energy bills. Faucets and showerheads may clog, lowering flow rates. Regular descaling with vinegar, drain screens, and a water softener are recommended, especially in older homes with galvanized plumbing. Chicago's water typically has a pH of 7.5–8.5 due to lime softening treatment. The system complies with EPA lead and copper rules through corrosion control, with no significant PFAS exceedances noted in recent monitoring.
Geology & Source: Lake Michigan Great Lakes Basin; Silurian dolomites and Devonian limestones in surrounding bedrock; calcium/magnesium dissolution from carbonate-rich formations and glacial till yields hard surface water
Other Illinois Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Irving Park's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Irving Park?
How does Irving Park compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Irving Park is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.