Wood Dale Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.7 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
626.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.67
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 Wood Dale, your appliances are currently losing 34% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Wood Dale | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -64% |
| Water Heater | 5.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -63% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Wood Dale compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wood Dale, Illinois | 252 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Addison, Illinois | 215.5 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bensenville, Illinois | 144.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Elk Grove Village, Illinois | 234.5 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Villa Park, Illinois | 283.5 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Wood Dale compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wood Dale | 252 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Wood Dale's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Wood Dale, Illinois, in DuPage County — a DuPage County city adjacent to Itasca and Addison in the west Chicago metro — receives its water from the DuPage Water Commission, drawing from Lake Michigan (DuPage County) through the west Chicago metro distribution.
The very hard 252 mg/L hardness and TDS of 626.9 mg/L are much harder than the Cook County Lake Michigan communities (Forest Park: 182 mg/L) — reflecting the DuPage County distribution system's different treatment output or local groundwater blending that produces significantly harder water at the DuPage County delivery point. The Lake Michigan at DuPage County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Galena Dolomite (dolomitic — secondary contributor), and Precambrian Canadian Shield (insoluble — dilutant).
At 252 mg/L with TDS 626, Wood Dale's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended to prevent rapid scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 8.8 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — O'Hare International Airport (Cook County — AFFF, immediately adjacent to Wood Dale) and the DuPage County industrial corridor contribute significantly to Wood Dale's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Wood Dale in DuPage County draws from the DuPage Water Commission or Illinois American Water on Lake Michigan (DuPage County, northeast Illinois) — Lake Michigan at DuPage draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite dissolution (dolomitic) — Illinois DuPage County Lake Michigan Silurian dolomitic supply produces very hard water at 252 mg/L with TDS 626.9 mg/L.