How hard is your town's water?

Hardness is measured in grains per gallon (gpg): the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water. The U.S. Geological Survey calls anything above about 10.5 grains "very hard." Lake Michigan water is about 8.

Chicago Lake Michigan 7.6 to 8.8 grains per gallon
Joliet west of Midland Ave. 12 grains per gallon
Oswego village wells 15 grains per gallon
Joliet east of Midland Ave. 22 grains per gallon
Batavia city wells 25 grains per gallon
Lockport city wells 36 to 42 grains per gallon

Hardness, grains per gallon (gpg) 25 gpg: above this, we size a bigger system Past that line

Figures from each town's own water quality information (tap a town to see it). Where a town prints a range, the bar is drawn to the middle of it. Numbers change year to year, so check your town's latest report, or ask us to pull it for you. Water facts last checked October 15, 2026.

Town water or a private well?

If you pay a water bill, your town tests its water and publishes a report, even when that water comes from wells. We read it with you on the call.

On a private well, nobody tests the water but you. That's why we won't quote a well until we've seen real numbers.

Radium: what the state says

Radium comes up a lot in the suburbs, so here is what the Illinois Department of Public Health says, without the scare tactics:

It's a naturally occurring element. In Illinois, higher levels show up mainly in the northern third of the state, in bedrock aquifers usually more than 500 feet deep.
It can't be seen, tasted or smelled.
Most private wells draw from shallower water that usually doesn't carry high radium, but it has been found in some. IDPH says that unless your well has been tested for it, you shouldn't assume it's radium-free.
Town water systems test for radium regularly, so it's listed in your town's report.
For private wells, IDPH suggests using 5 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) as a guideline.
IDPH notes that a water softener can often remove about 90 percent of radium along with the hardness. Reverse osmosis is another common option.

About our equipment: that 90 percent figure is IDPH describing softeners in general, not a claim about ours. We don't claim the softener or drinking-water system we install removes radium. If a lab result comes back over 5 pCi/L, we'll only recommend equipment whose certification specifically lists radium reduction.

Source: Illinois Department of Public Health radium fact sheet. See also IDPH: radium in drinking water.

How we handle it

Illinois doesn't certify labs for radium, so IDPH recommends a lab certified by the U.S. EPA or another state. If radium is on your mind, we'll point you to one and explain the results in plain English.

If your results come back fine, you'll hear that from us too.

What a water test tells us

A basic test covers four things. Each one changes what you need:

Hardness. At 25 grains or less, a standard-size system can work for a small household. Harder than that, you need more softening capacity.
Iron. Above 0.3 parts per million (ppm), the U.S. EPA's guideline for staining, iron can leave orange or reddish stains and foul a softener, so it needs its own treatment ahead of it.
pH. Tells us whether the water is acidic enough to need attention.
Dissolved solids. The overall mineral load, and our baseline for the drinking-water test.

The sizing math, out in the open

We take your hardness, add 4 for every ppm of iron, and multiply by the number of people at home. If that comes to 80 or less, the standard package fits. Above 80, you need a bigger system, and we'll quote it in writing.

Water facts last checked October 15, 2026.

Getting your test

Already have a recent test, even one a dealer did? Text us a photo. If not, we'll get you a sample bottle and test hardness, iron, pH and dissolved solids at no charge.

For bacteria, nitrate or radium, you need a certified lab. According to IDPH, most local health departments can also help test a private well for bacteria and nitrate.

Well and hard-water pricing

A starting price you can plan around, and a final price in writing once we've seen your numbers.

Well & Hard Water Package

For private wells and water over 25 grains

from $4,499

Sized from your water testMore softening resin, or a two-tank system so you always have soft water.
Iron treatment, if your test shows it's neededQuoted separately, in writing, before you decide.
Standard installation and permitIncluding the drain connection, bypass valve and first fill of salt.
Tested before we leaveWe check your softened water in front of you and leave you the results.

Optional add-on

Add drinking water

+$699

A 5-stage reverse osmosis system under your kitchen sink, with its own faucet. Optional for this package; the City Water Package already includes it.

Drinking water, explained

Tax included. 50% when you book, 50% when the install passes our checklist.

Start with a water test What can change a price

Softer town water?

$3,299

If your town's water is under 25 grains and your household is small, the City Water Package may be all you need. We'll tell you which one fits.

Photos from a recent install we completed

Photos from our own installs, shared with each homeowner's permission.

A blue-tinted water softener on the left with a black salt tank in front of it, and a tall stainless carbon filter tank on the right, with a blue sediment filter on the pipe above and a water heater beside them. — **Skokie, October 2026.** The softener (left) and a carbon filter tank (right), with a sediment pre-filter on the main line and the salt tank in front.

The digital control valve on top of a blue water softener tank, with a stainless carbon filter tank, a gas water heater and the black salt tank behind and beside it in a utility closet. — **Skokie, October 2026.** The softener's control valve, with the carbon tank and the water heater behind it.

Every home is set up a little differently. This one has a separate softener and carbon tank. What goes in yours depends on your water, and your written quote lists every part.

Well water questions

Why won't you quote a well without a test?

Because wells vary too much to guess. Two homes on the same road can have very different hardness and iron. Quoting without numbers is how people end up with the wrong system, so we test first and quote second.

What if my test shows iron?

Iron above 0.3 parts per million (ppm), the U.S. EPA's guideline for staining and taste, can leave orange or reddish stains. Above that level, a softener alone isn't enough, so we add iron treatment ahead of it and quote that separately, in writing, before you decide anything.

How do I test my well for radium?

Use a lab. Illinois doesn't certify labs for radium testing, so the Illinois Department of Public Health recommends a lab certified by the U.S. EPA or another state. We'll point you to one and explain the results in plain English.

I have a septic system. Can you still install?

Often, yes. Illinois's Private Sewage Disposal Code (Section 905.20) sends softener rinse water to its own seepage area instead of the septic system, so we confirm the drain route before we quote. If it can't be done right, we won't do it.

All questions and answers

Well water softeners for the Chicago suburbs, tested first

Get your Free Water Check