Melrose Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
16.3 grains per gallon
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
$0.74
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 Melrose Park, your appliances are currently losing 37% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Melrose Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -73% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Melrose Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Melrose Park, Illinois | 279 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Maywood, Illinois | 253.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bellwood, Illinois | 139 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Franklin Park, Illinois | 203 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Northlake, Illinois | 254 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Melrose Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Melrose Park | 279 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Melrose Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Melrose Park, Illinois, in Cook County in the western Chicago suburbs, receives its water from a supply system that incorporates deep groundwater from the Silurian Dolomite Aquifer — a major regional groundwater source underlying northeastern Illinois and Wisconsin. While some western Cook County communities access Lake Michigan water through the Chicago metropolitan grid, the hardness of 279 mg/L significantly exceeds Lake Michigan's typical hardness (~150 mg/L), indicating substantial groundwater contribution from the dolomite aquifer underlying the region's western edges.
The very hard 279 mg/L hardness is driven by the Silurian Dolomite Aquifer — a thick formation of ancient reef-derived dolomite and limestone covering the region, composed of coral and stromatoporoid reef complexes approximately 430 million years old. Dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) dissolves very readily into groundwater, producing high bicarbonate hardness characteristic of the dolomite plains of northern Illinois. The elevated PFAS level of 9.7 ppt reflects the Chicago area's industrial legacy and presence of manufacturing and military facilities in the region.
At 279 mg/L, Melrose Park residents deal with very hard water and its persistent household effects. Kettles accumulate heavy white scale within days of regular use, showerheads clog quickly with mineral deposits, glass shower doors develop thick calcium films, and dishwashers consistently leave chalky residue on all glassware. Water heaters suffer significant efficiency losses from scale buildup on heating elements. A whole-house water softener is strongly recommended for Melrose Park households. Additionally, given the elevated PFAS of 9.7 ppt, residents are advised to install a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter for drinking and cooking water to address both the mineral load and PFAS concerns.
Geology & Source: Melrose Park in Cook County draws from a river source supply influenced by deep Silurian Dolomite Aquifer groundwater blending — the Silurian reef-derived dolomite underlying northeastern Illinois contains exceptionally high concentrations of calcium magnesium carbonate — producing very hard water at 279 mg/L far above what Lake Michigan supply alone would yield.