Sauk Village Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
324.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.45
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 Sauk Village, your appliances are currently losing 22% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Sauk Village | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -52% |
| Washing Machine | 7.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -38% |
| Water Heater | 8.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -41% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Sauk Village compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sauk Village, Illinois | 167.5 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Dyer, Indiana | 268 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Chicago Heights, Illinois | 169.5 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Lansing, Illinois | 282.5 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Munster, Indiana | 208 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Sauk Village compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sauk Village | 167.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Sauk Village's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Sauk Village, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County village adjacent to Chicago Heights and Ford Heights in the south Cook County suburbs — receives its water from Illinois American Water, drawing from Lake Michigan through the northeast Illinois distribution.
The hard 167.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 324.8 mg/L reflect the Cook County supply's hard dolomitic Lake Michigan character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Ordovician Galena Dolomite are highly dolomitic formations in the Illinois Dolomite Plateau, and Lake Michigan south suburban water concentrates moderate dissolved mineral content from the south Cook County distribution corridor (compare Chicago Heights IL: 163/315 in Cook County comparable; Ford Heights IL: 171/334 in Cook County comparable; Sauk Village consistent hard from the same Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian dolomitic supply). The Lake Michigan supply — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Galena Dolomite (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Lake Michigan glaciolacustrine sediment (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 167.5 mg/L with TDS 325, Sauk Village's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.9 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review Illinois American Water's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Sauk Village in Cook County draws from the Illinois American Water on the Lake Michigan supply (Cook County, northeast Illinois) — Lake Michigan at Cook County draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Ordovician Galena Dolomite (calcareous) — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian dolomitic supply produces hard water at 167.5 mg/L with TDS 324.8 mg/L.