Summit Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.2 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
249.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.38
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 Summit, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Summit | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -42% |
| Washing Machine | 8.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -30% |
| Water Heater | 10 yrs | 15 yrs | -33% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Summit compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Summit, Illinois | 141 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Lyons, Illinois | 198.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bridgeview, Illinois | 220.5 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Justice, Illinois | 197.5 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Brookfield, Illinois | 229 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Summit compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Summit | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Summit's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Summit, Illinois, in Cook County — a Cook County village adjacent to Lyons and Bedford Park in the southwest Chicago suburbs — receives its water from the Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District or Illinois American Water, drawing from Lake Michigan through the northeast Illinois distribution.
The hard 141 mg/L hardness and TDS of 249.2 mg/L reflect the Cook County Lake Michigan supply's hard dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Ordovician Galena Dolomite underlie the Lake Michigan basin and contribute dolomitic mineral content to the western Great Lakes watershed (compare Lyons IL: 138/244 in Cook County comparable; Bedford Park IL: 143/253 in Cook County comparable; Summit consistent hard from the same Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian dolomitic supply). The Lake Michigan basin at Cook County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Galena Dolomite (dolomitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary glacial outwash (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 141 mg/L with TDS 249, Summit's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.0 ppt is moderate — a certified drinking water filter provides added protection. Review Chicago Metropolitan Water's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Summit in Cook County draws from the Chicago Metropolitan Water on Lake Michigan (Cook County, northeast Illinois) — the Lake Michigan basin at Cook County is underlain by Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Ordovician Galena Dolomite (dolomitic) — Illinois Cook County Lake Michigan Silurian dolomitic supply produces hard water at 141 mg/L with TDS 249.2 mg/L.