River Grove Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.1 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
242.5 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 Grove, your appliances are currently losing 18% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In River Grove | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -41% |
| Washing Machine | 8.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -29% |
| Water Heater | 10.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -33% |
Regional Water Comparison
How River Grove compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ River Grove, Illinois | 138.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Elmwood Park, Illinois | 243.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Franklin Park, Illinois | 203 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Melrose Park, Illinois | 279 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| River Forest, Illinois | 137.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How River Grove compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ River Grove | 138.5 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 Grove's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
River Grove, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County village adjacent to Melrose Park and Elmwood Park in the northwest Chicago suburbs — receives its water from the City of Chicago Department of Water Management, drawing from Lake Michigan through the northeast Illinois distribution.
The hard 138.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 242.5 mg/L reflect the Cook County supply's hard Lake Michigan character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Devonian Detroit River Group are slightly dolomitic-calcareous formations in the Great Lakes Basin; Chicago's Lake Michigan supply at the northwest suburban Cook County distribution consistently delivers hard water throughout the near-northwest suburbs (compare Melrose Park IL: 135/236 in Cook County comparable; Elmwood Park IL: 141/249 in Cook County comparable; River Grove consistent hard from the same Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian supply). The Lake Michigan supply — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (slightly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Detroit River Group (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Lake Michigan glaciolacustrine sediment (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 138.5 mg/L with TDS 243, River Grove's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 4.9 ppt is moderate — a certified drinking water filter provides added protection. Review the Chicago Department of Water Management's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: River Grove in Cook County draws from the Chicago Water on the Lake Michigan supply (Cook County, northeast Illinois) — Lake Michigan at Cook County draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (slightly dolomitic) and Devonian Detroit River Group (calcareous) — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian supply produces hard water at 138.5 mg/L with TDS 242.5 mg/L.