Lincolnwood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.4 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
257.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.38
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 Lincolnwood, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Lincolnwood | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -44% |
| Washing Machine | 8.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -31% |
| Water Heater | 9.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -35% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Lincolnwood compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lincolnwood, Illinois | 144 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Skokie, Illinois | 236.5 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Albany Park, Illinois | 222 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| West Ridge, Illinois | 188 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Lincoln Square, Illinois | 142.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Lincolnwood compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lincolnwood | 144 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Lincolnwood's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Lincolnwood, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County village adjacent to Skokie and Chicago in the north Chicago metro — receives its water from the Chicago Department of Water Management, drawing from Lake Michigan (Cook County) through the north Chicago metro distribution.
The hard 144 mg/L hardness and TDS of 257.4 mg/L reflect the north Chicago metro Cook County Lake Michigan supply's hard dolomitic character — softer than Markham IL (233/551) in south Cook County because Lincolnwood is in the north Cook County distribution zone where the Chicago DWM water plant produces a slightly softer filtered supply, consistent with the north Chicago suburb communities (compare Justice IL: 133/246 in southwest Cook; Lincolnwood comparable). The Lake Michigan at Cook County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Devonian carbonate shelf (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Great Lakes drift (calcareous — minor TDS).
At 144 mg/L with TDS 257, Lincolnwood's water is hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.1 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Cook County north Chicago industrial corridor contribute to Lincolnwood's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Lincolnwood in Cook County draws from the Chicago Department of Water Management on Lake Michigan (Cook County, north Chicago metro, Illinois) — Lake Michigan at Cook County drains the Great Lakes basin (Silurian Niagaran Dolomite — dolomitic) and Devonian carbonate shelf (calcareous) — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian-Devonian dolomitic supply produces hard water at 144 mg/L with TDS 257.4 mg/L.