Woodlawn Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
180+ mg/L
Very Hardestimated Β· not lab-verified
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
β Below action level
TDS
654.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.91
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below Β· Updated 2026
0β60
mg/L
Soft
61β120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121β180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Woodlawn, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Woodlawn | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -45% |
| Washing Machine | 6.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -45% |
| Water Heater | 8.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -45% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Woodlawn compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| βΆ Woodlawn, Illinois | β 180+ mg/L | 5 ppt | π΄ Very Hard | river |
| Hyde Park, Illinois | β 120β179 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | π Hard | river |
| Greater Grand Crossing, Illinois | 222.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | π΄ Very Hard | river |
| South Shore, Illinois | β 180+ mg/L | 9.3 ppt | π΄ Very Hard | river |
| Kenwood, Illinois | β 120β179 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | π Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Woodlawn compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| βΆ Woodlawn | β 180+ mg/L | π΄ High |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | π Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | π’ None |
Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Woodlawn home
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What Makes Woodlawn's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Woodlawn, Illinois is served by the Woodlawn Water Utility, which sources its drinking water from purchased surface water supplied by the Rend Lake Inter-City Water System. The utility serves the Woodlawn community in southern Illinois and maintains a Grade A water quality rating; 5 total violations are on record, though none have occurred recently. The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report documents the utility's compliance and water quality parameters, and residents with specific concerns may contact the utility directly at 618-439-4394 for assistance.
The Woodlawn water supply draws from the Rend Lake watershed, part of the larger Wabash River drainage system in southern Illinois. The region's geology is dominated by Pennsylvanian-age sedimentary rocks β shales, sandstones, and coal-bearing formations β underlain by Mississippian-age limestone and dolomite. As surface water and groundwater percolate through these carbonate-rich formations, they dissolve significant quantities of calcium and magnesium, resulting in a very hard water supply typical of this geological setting.
At the very hard classification, Woodlawn residents experience pronounced scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. White mineral deposits accumulate on fixtures and glassware, and soap and detergent effectiveness is noticeably reduced. A water softener is strongly recommended to mitigate these effects and extend the lifespan of plumbing and appliances. Regular maintenance of water-using equipment is essential to prevent efficiency loss. The water meets all EPA and state standards with no recent violations; the utility's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report provides comprehensive details on contaminants, treatment processes, and compliance status.
Geology & Source: Rend Lake system, Wabash River watershed, southern Illinois; Pennsylvanian shales, sandstones, and coal seams overlie Mississippian limestone and dolomite; carbonate strata dissolve calcium and magnesium β very hard surface water
Other Illinois Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How does Woodlawn compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Woodlawn is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
Water Hardness
Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city β the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock β values may differ from utility-reported figures.
TDS β Total Dissolved Solids
Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.
PFAS β Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023β2025) β sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.
Lead
Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age β all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Appliance Lifespan
Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.