Illinois utilities with hard water.
121 to 180 mg/L (7.1 to 10.5 grains per gallon). 55 utilities serving 3.7 million people as they report it, largest first.
All 55, by people served
| Utility | Based in | Serves | Hardness, mg/L | Grains per gallon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Chicago | 2,721,308 | 137 | 8 |
| Waukegan | Waukegan | 87,149 | 140 | 8.2 |
| Bloomington | Bloomington | 79,000 | 135 | 7.9 |
| Decatur | Decatur | 76,122 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Schaumburg | Schaumburg | 75,750 | 132 | 7.7 |
| Evanston | Evanston | 74,486 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Oak Lawn | Oak Lawn | 58,362 | 140 | 8.2 |
| Hanover Park | Hanover Park | 37,470 | 135 | 7.9 |
| Vernon Hills - Lake Co Pw | Vernon Hills | 33,207 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Gurnee | Gurnee | 30,193 | 152 | 8.9 |
| Highland Park | Highland Park | 30,176 | 140 | 8.2 |
| Aqua Illinois - Vermilion County | Danville | 30,106 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Aqua Illinois - North Maine Utilities | Glenview | 30,043 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Wilmette | Wilmette | 27,650 | 135 | 7.9 |
| Great Lakes Naval Training Station | North Chicago | 23,000 | 130 | 7.6 |
| South Holland | South Holland | 22,000 | 140 | 8.2 |
| Lake Forest | Lake Forest | 19,642 | 140 | 8.2 |
| IL American - Streator | Streator | 19,000 | 173 | 10.1 |
| Round Lake | Round Lake | 18,430 | 140 | 8.2 |
| North Chicago | North Chicago | 16,813 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Wildwood Subdivision - Lake Co Pw | Libertyville | 14,073 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Western Springs | Western Springs | 13,629 | 131 | 7.7 |
| Lincolnwood | Lincolnwood | 13,463 | 136 | 8 |
| Glen Carbon | Glen Carbon | 12,618 | 122 | 7.1 |
| Winnetka | Winnetka | 12,475 | 140 | 8.2 |
| IL American - Pontiac | Pontiac | 11,864 | 154 | 9 |
| Clear Water Service Corp | Mattoon | 8,900 | 170 | 9.9 |
| Glencoe | Forest Park | 8,849 | 140 | 8.2 |
| Mascoutah | Mascoutah | 8,759 | 147 | 8.6 |
| Chester | Chester | 8,407 | 135 | 7.9 |
| Vandalia | Vandalia | 7,616 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Southeast Regional Water Facility | Darien | 6,940 | 124 | 7.2 |
| Litchfield | Litchfield | 6,648 | 155 | 9.1 |
| Pinckneyville | Pinckneyville | 5,804 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Staunton | Staunton | 5,756 | 150 | 8.8 |
| Wilmington | Wilmington | 5,700 | 155 | 9.1 |
| Monticello | Monticello | 5,548 | 160 | 9.4 |
| Highwood | Highwood | 5,335 | 135 | 7.9 |
| Anna | Anna | 4,910 | 137 | 8 |
| Watseka | Watseka | 4,767 | 150 | 8.8 |
| Sullivan | Sullivan | 4,729 | 140 | 8.2 |
| Eldorado | Eldorado | 4,715 | 172 | 10.1 |
| Freeburg | Freeburg | 4,707 | 159 | 9.3 |
| Pittsfield | Pittsfield | 4,697 | 180 | 10.5 |
| Dupo | Dupo | 4,684 | 150 | 8.8 |
| Sparta | Sparta | 4,395 | 140 | 8.2 |
| Millstadt | Millstadt | 4,071 | 178 | 10.4 |
| Fairbury | Fairbury | 3,633 | 140 | 8.2 |
| Hainesville | Hainesville | 3,528 | 160 | 9.4 |
| Carlyle | Carlyle | 3,373 | 161 | 9.4 |
| Pontoon Beach PWD | Pontoon Beach | 3,325 | 134 | 7.8 |
| Southern IL University - Edwardsville | Edwardsville | 2,817 | 129 | 7.6 |
| Mount Olive | Aviston | 2,193 | 130 | 7.6 |
| Blandinsville | Blandinsville | 569 | 150 | 8.8 |
| Buckley | Buckley | 500 | 160 | 9.4 |
Source: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Water, 327 utilities, results from Aug. 2, 2016 to July 29, 2026, read Oct. 17, 2026. Each sampling point is taken at its median; a figure is typical where every point falls in one band.
Bands are the U.S. Geological Survey’s, at 17.1 mg/L to the grain. People served is what each utility reports; where one sells water to another, the same people can be counted twice. How hardness is measured here.
Where to go next
- Illinois hardnessEvery band in the state, with the largest utilities in each.Illinois water hardness
- Softeners comparedCertified softeners and what each costs over five years, salt included, at your water’s hardness.Softeners, salt included
- Hardness across the USEvery state with hardness results, and the hardest and softest large utilities.US water hardness