How does Lombard's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Lombard (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

Lombard Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

338.3 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · est.

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 Lombard, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Lombard	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Lombard compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Lombard, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river
Villa Park, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Addison, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Glen Ellyn, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Glendale Heights, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Lombard compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Lombard	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Lombard's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 338.3 mg/LpH: 8

The Village of Lombard Public Works Department supplies drinking water to over 40,000 residents across approximately 10 square miles in DuPage County, Illinois. Water is sourced from Lake Michigan, treated by the City of Chicago, and transmitted via the DuPage Water Commission. Daily production exceeds 4 million gallons, meeting and surpassing EPA standards. No local treatment plants are operated by the Village; the regional supply chain relies on lake intake cribs near Chicago.

The Lake Michigan watershed spans 121,000 square miles across eight U.S. states and Ontario. Underlying Paleozoic bedrock includes Devonian-Silurian dolomites and limestones rich in calcium and magnesium, contributing dissolved minerals via shoreline erosion. The lake's natural chemistry reflects low hardness from glacial scouring and dilution, but utility treatment — coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, and lime softening — shapes the final profile into a hard supply prone to scale formation.

At very hard levels, scale buildup accelerates in water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency by up to 50% and shortening lifespan; faucets and fixtures develop chalky deposits. Maintenance includes annual vinegar flushes, low-flow aerators, and commercial descalers. A whole-house water softener is strongly recommended to prevent spotting on glassware, prolong appliance life, and improve soap efficiency. pH is typically 8.0–9.0 for lead/copper corrosion control; contaminants like TTHMs, haloacetic acids, and nitrates are monitored below MCLs per annual Consumer Confidence Reports.

Geology & Source: Lake Michigan surface supply; underlying Paleozoic Devonian-Silurian limestones and dolomites contribute dissolved calcium and magnesium — lime softening during treatment elevates final hardness to hard levels despite natural glacial dilution

Other Illinois Water Reports

Villa Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Addison

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Glen Ellyn

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Glendale Heights

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lombard's water safe to drink?

Yes. Lombard's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Lombard?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Lombard's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 45%.

How does Lombard compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Lombard (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Lombard is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

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.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

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.

Measured

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.

Modelled

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.

Calculated

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.