Justice Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.5 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
421.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.53
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 Justice, your appliances are currently losing 26% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Justice | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -64% |
| Washing Machine | 6.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -48% |
| Water Heater | 7.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -49% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Justice compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Justice, Illinois | 197.5 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Hickory Hills, Illinois | 211.5 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bridgeview, Illinois | 220.5 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Palos Hills, Illinois | 152.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Burbank, Illinois | 250 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Justice compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Justice | 197.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Justice's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Justice, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County village adjacent to Bridgeview and Burbank in the southwest Chicago suburb — receives its water from the Illinois American Water, drawing from Lake Michigan (Cook County) through the southwest Chicago metro distribution.
The hard 197.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 421.5 mg/L reflect the southwest Chicago Cook County Lake Michigan supply's hard dolomitic character — harder than the standard Chicago municipal Lake Michigan supply (~136 mg/L) because Justice receives its water through Illinois American Water's distribution system which draws from the Chicago metro Lake Michigan shore where Silurian Niagaran Dolomite shoreline dissolution contributes additional hardness. The Lake Michigan at Cook County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (dolomitic — primary hardness contributor from shoreline), Precambrian Canadian Shield (insoluble — watershed dilutant), and Quaternary glacial drift (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 197.5 mg/L with TDS 422, Justice's water is hard. A water softener is recommended to prevent scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 6.9 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Cook County southwest Chicago industrial corridor contribute to Justice's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Justice in Cook County draws from the Illinois American Water on Lake Michigan (Cook County, southwest Chicago suburb, Illinois) — Lake Michigan at Cook County is a glacial freshwater lake draining Precambrian Canadian Shield (insoluble) with Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (dolomitic) shoreline contributions — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Precambrian-Silurian supply produces hard water at 197.5 mg/L with TDS 421.5 mg/L.