Round Lake Beach Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Round Lake Beach, Illinois, receives its drinking water from the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency (CLCJAWA), which supplies the village through connections to Lake Michigan. The utility serves approximately 28,000 residents in Lake County, with water treated at the CLCJAWA facility in Lake Forest, Illinois. Primary sourcing involves surface water from Lake Michigan, with potential groundwater blending from local wells during peak demand. Treatment occurs at modern plants equipped for filtration, disinfection, and chemical adjustment before distribution via the village's municipal system.

The water supply is tied to the Lake Michigan watershed, encompassing glacial till, sand, and gravel deposits from Pleistocene glaciations. Beneath lies Paleozoic bedrock dominated by Silurian-age dolomites and limestones of the Racine and Waukegan formations, prevalent in northern Illinois. These carbonate formations dissolve readily, imparting a hard character through leaching of minerals during infiltration and treatment. Local glacial drift aquifers overlying Devonian shale and limestone add further mineralization from contact with limestone-rich glacial deposits.

Very hard water in Round Lake Beach causes significant scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, boilers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Faucet aerators and showerheads often clog, leading to reduced flow and higher energy costs. Annual descaling of appliances, installing scale-inhibiting filters, and flushing water heaters is advised; a water softener is strongly recommended for households to prevent spotting and extend appliance life. The 2024 Annual Water Quality Report confirms full EPA compliance, including for lead and copper; no notable PFAS exceedances are reported. Treatment includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, chlorination, and fluoride addition, with pH typically adjusted to 7.5–8.5 for stability.