River Forest Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
240 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.37
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 River Forest, your appliances are currently losing 18% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In River Forest | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -40% |
| Washing Machine | 8.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -29% |
| Water Heater | 10.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -33% |
Regional Water Comparison
How River Forest compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ River Forest, Illinois | 137.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Forest Park, Illinois | 182 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Elmwood Park, Illinois | 243.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Oak Park, Illinois | 274 mg/L | 9.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Maywood, Illinois | 253.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How River Forest compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ River Forest | 137.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes River Forest's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
River Forest, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County village adjacent to Oak Park and Forest Park in the inner western Chicago suburbs — receives its water from Illinois American Water, drawing from Lake Michigan through the northeast Illinois distribution.
The moderately hard 137.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 240 mg/L reflect the Cook County Lake Michigan supply's moderate dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite contributes modest dissolved mineral content, but the vast volume of Lake Michigan dilutes mineralization compared to bedrock groundwater supplies (compare Oak Park IL: 134/233 in Cook County comparable; Forest Park IL: 140/248 in Cook County comparable; River Forest consistent moderate from the same Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian dolomitic supply). The Lake Michigan supply at Cook County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (slightly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Precambrian Canadian Shield (insoluble — primary dilutant), and Quaternary Great Lakes basin sediment (slightly calcareous — minor TDS).
At 137.5 mg/L with TDS 240, River Forest's water is moderately hard — scale builds in appliances. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 4.9 ppt is moderate — a certified drinking water filter provides added protection. Review Illinois American Water's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: River Forest in Cook County draws from the Illinois American Water on Lake Michigan (Cook County, northeast Illinois) — the Lake Michigan supply at Cook County drains Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (slightly dolomitic) and Precambrian Canadian Shield (insoluble) — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian dolomitic supply produces moderately hard water at 137.5 mg/L with TDS 240 mg/L.