Kankakee Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.7 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
428.5 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 Kankakee, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Kankakee | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -65% |
| Washing Machine | 6.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -48% |
| Water Heater | 7.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -49% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Kankakee compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Kankakee, Illinois | 199.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bradley, Illinois | 209.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bourbonnais, Illinois | 204 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Frankfort, Illinois | 201 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Richton Park, Illinois | 129 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Kankakee compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Kankakee | 199.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Kankakee's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Kankakee, Illinois, the Kankakee County seat — a major northeast Illinois river industrial city (Kankakee is the Kankakee County seat — one of the most historically significant industrial and railroad cities in northeast Illinois; Kankakee was a major railroad junction and manufacturing center in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — the Illinois Central and other rail lines made Kankakee a significant freight and passenger hub; Kankakee is known for its extraordinary Frank Lloyd Wright architecture (the B. Harley Bradley House (1900) and the Warren Hickox House (1900) — two of Frank Lloyd Wright's earliest Prairie Style masterpieces are in Kankakee; the Bradley House is one of the most important early Prairie Style designs in Wright's career and is a National Historic Landmark)); Kankakee is also known for the Kankakee River (one of the most important recreational rivers in northeast Illinois — the Kankakee River State Park is a major canoe, kayak, and wildlife corridor), a diverse Kankakee County community with a significant African-American, Hispanic-American, and working-class and manufacturing heritage population — draws its municipal water supply from the Kankakee River via the City of Kankakee Water Division. Water hardness in Kankakee measures 199.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
Kankakee's hard supply reflects the northeast Illinois Kankakee County Kankakee River carbonate corridor's calcareous character. The Kankakee River draws dissolved carbonates from the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite with limited softening, producing the hard 199.5 mg/L.
At 199.5 mg/L, Kankakee residents face regular hard water challenges. Monthly descaling and water softeners are recommended. City of Kankakee Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Illinois EPA and federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Kankakee River via the City of Kankakee Water Division — the Kankakee County northeast Illinois Kankakee River corridor (Silurian calcareous Niagaran Dolomite — the calcareous northeast Illinois Kankakee County Kankakee River carbonate corridor; limited softening); hard supply at 199.5 mg/L in Kankakee County.