Cedar Lake Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
438.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.55
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 Cedar Lake, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Cedar Lake | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -67% |
| Washing Machine | 6 yrs | 12 yrs | -50% |
| Water Heater | 7.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -51% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Cedar Lake compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cedar Lake, Indiana | 205 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Saint John, Indiana | 158.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Crown Point, Indiana | 245 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Schererville, Indiana | 181.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Dyer, Indiana | 268 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Cedar Lake compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cedar Lake | 205 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Cedar Lake's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Cedar Lake, Indiana, in Lake County — a Lake County town adjacent to Crown Point and Lowell in northwest Indiana — receives its water from the Cedar Lake Water Department or Lake County utility, drawing from the Kankakee River and supplemental local sources through the northwest Indiana distribution.
The hard 205 mg/L hardness and TDS of 438.5 mg/L reflect the Lake County Kankakee supply's hard dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite underlies much of northwest Indiana and produces consistently hard water, compounded by Devonian Traverse Formation calcareous contributions in the watershed (compare Crown Point IN: 202/432 in Lake County comparable; Lowell IN: 207/444 in Lake County comparable; Cedar Lake consistent hard from the same Lake County Kankakee River Silurian-Devonian dolomitic supply). The Kankakee watershed at Lake County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Traverse Formation (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary glacial drift (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 205 mg/L with TDS 439, Cedar Lake's water is hard — scale builds in appliances and fixtures over months, water heaters benefit from annual flushing. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Lake County northwest Indiana industrial corridor contributes to Cedar Lake's elevated PFAS readings. Review the utility's annual water quality report for the latest data.
Geology & Source: Cedar Lake in Lake County draws from the Cedar Lake Water on the Kankakee River (Lake County, northwest Indiana) — the Kankakee watershed at Lake County drains Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Devonian Traverse Formation (calcareous) — Indiana Lake County Kankakee River Silurian-Devonian dolomitic supply produces hard water at 205 mg/L with TDS 438.5 mg/L.