Chicago Tap Water Hardness

This water hardness scale build up comes at a significant cost.

Chicago tap water hardness.

Hardness data reflecting mostly calcium plus a little magnesium for individual drinking water suppliers is at the epa office of ground water and drinking water website. Please call ahead or visit any department s website to get additional details or visit chicago gov covid 19. Gradually resume many city services have adjusted hours or locations and may require health screens prior to entering their physical spaces. The groundwater in northern illinois and chicago contain especially high levels of calcium carbonate in the range of 181 to 250 milligrams per liter.

Hard water causes scale to accumulate in pipe systems and equipment. The city of chicago is currently in phase four. Scale buildup compromises energy efficiency. In truth the city maintains that tap water is safe to drink even if it contains traces of the following contaminants.

According to the usgs the great lakes region has some of the hardest water in the u s. Water hardness map of the united states water hardness table of classifications and links to more information about water softening and effects. How is water hardness measured. Hard water describes water containing dissolved hardness minerals above 1 gpg.

The scale restricts the flow through the pipes and is a poor conductor. View a national map of hardness in surface water on the usgs water hardness website. Chicago tap water is safe to drink. The collection of data for the preceding year begins in january it is analyzed and compiled and is usually available by the spring.

Environmental protection agency epa has not set a legal limit or standard for hardness in water. For example in water heating and cooling systems an eighth of an inch of scale buildup results in a 20 percent loss of efficiency. This is our annual consumer confidence report providing the public with a compressive overview of the chicago water system and an annual average water quality data. It is important to note that the u s.

Most water hardness testers measure or report hard water in grains per gallon but some laboratories use milligrams per liter or parts per million. The safety and quality of chicago s tap water is our top priority. Most people figure that chicago requires it s tap water to be contaminant free. This means scale causes energy.

Check out other information about tap water quality in chicago.