McKinley Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
15.6 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
692.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.71
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 McKinley Park, your appliances are currently losing 36% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In McKinley Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -69% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How McKinley Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ McKinley Park, Illinois | 267.5 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bridgeport, Illinois | 220 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Lower West Side, Illinois | 189 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Brighton Park, Illinois | 222.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| New City, Illinois | 208.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How McKinley Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ McKinley Park | 267.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes McKinley Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
McKinley Park, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County neighborhood of Chicago adjacent to Brighton Park and Back of the Yards in the southwest side of Chicago — receives its water from the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM), drawing from Lake Michigan (Cook County) through the Chicago water purification plant.
The very hard 267.5 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 692.5 mg/L are among the highest in the Chicago metro dataset — reflecting the southwest Chicago Lake Michigan supply's intense Silurian Dolomite character. The Chicago Department of Water Management draws from Lake Michigan — the lake overlies and is fed by the Silurian Niagara Dolomite (the dominant northeast Illinois carbonate platform, the highest hardness contributor in the Chicago dataset), Devonian Milwaukee Formation (calcareous), and Ordovician Galena Dolomite (calcareous). The pervasive Niagara Dolomite dissolution into the Chicago metro water supply produces the very hard southwest Chicago water.
At 267.5 mg/L with TDS 693, McKinley Park's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 9.3 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the Cook County southwest Chicago industrial corridor (one of the largest US industrial PFAS legacy zones) and the Lake Michigan PFAS background from the Chicago industrial complex contribute to McKinley Park's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: McKinley Park in Cook County draws from the Chicago Department of Water Management on Lake Michigan (Cook County, northeast Illinois) — Lake Michigan at Cook County is underlain by Silurian Niagara Dolomite (soluble — intense carbonate) — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian Dolomite basin produces very hard water at 267.5 mg/L with TDS 692.5 mg/L in this Cook County Illinois neighborhood.