How does Melrose Park's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Melrose Park (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Melrose Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

8.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.009 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

742.7 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Melrose Park, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Melrose Park	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Melrose Park compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Melrose Park, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Maywood, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Bellwood, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river
River Grove, Illinois	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Franklin Park, Illinois	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Melrose Park compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Melrose Park	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Melrose Park's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 742.7 mg/LpH: 8.5

The Melrose Park water utility serves the village of Melrose Park in Cook County, Illinois (ZIPs 60160, 60161, 60164), with a population of around 25,000. Water is purchased as treated surface water from the City of Chicago Water Department, sourced from Lake Michigan via intake cribs near the city's south shore. Treatment occurs at Chicago's Jardine Water Purification Plant and other facilities, using screening, chemical coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Contact: 708-531-5347; emergency 239-880-1150; address 1002 N. 27th Avenue.

The supply originates in the Lake Michigan watershed, a vast Great Lakes basin shaped by Pleistocene glaciation over Paleozoic carbonate bedrock including Silurian reef dolomites from the Niagaran Series. Minimal rock-water contact in the open lake yields a relatively soft supply with low natural mineral load, unlike harder groundwater from underlying limestone aquifers. Chicago's treatment preserves this character, though distribution through iron mains can add trace metals; the water remains moderately mineralised overall due to the soft lake source and lime softening steps that adjust chemistry without fully removing calcium.

Scale buildup affects water heaters, dishwashers, and laundry machines most, reducing efficiency by 20–30% over time and increasing energy bills. Boilers and coffee makers show visible deposits, while faucets develop limescale rings. Monthly vinegar descaling helps; a softening bypass for low-flow fixtures is advisable. A whole-house softener is recommended to extend appliance life and improve soap efficiency, especially in older homes with galvanized pipes. Water quality scores 80/100 per TapWaterData, with good compliance but minor concerns from chlorine byproducts; pH is typically 7.5–8.5; treatment includes coagulation with alum, fluoridation, and ammonia-chlorine disinfection, with no recent EPA violations.

Geology & Source: Lake Michigan watershed; Pleistocene glacial deposits over Paleozoic Silurian dolomite and limestone (Niagaran Series) — minimal rock-water contact in open lake yields naturally softer supply; modest mineralization from distribution and treatment

Other Illinois Water Reports

Maywood

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Bellwood

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

River Grove

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Franklin Park

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Melrose Park's water safe to drink?

Yes. Melrose Park's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Melrose Park?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Melrose Park'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 20%.

How does Melrose Park compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Melrose Park (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Melrose Park 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.