Is tap water safe in North Chicago?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in North Chicago, IL?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 254 ppm (14.9 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 60064?

At 254 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

North Chicago water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for North Chicago, Illinois.

Median indexed hardness

254PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 254–254 PPM

State comparison: 31 PPM below
State hardness rank: #681 of 913
Matched utilities: 2
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

North Chicago has 2 published ZIP profiles across Lake County. The indexed median is 254 PPM, compared with 285 PPM across Illinois.

Among the 913 Illinoiscities with an indexed median, North Chicago ranks #681from highest to lowest. Across all 1,065 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 115to 408 PPM.

The 254–254 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard2 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 22.6 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Apr 12, 2016 to Apr 22, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in North Chicago

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

60064

Very Hard

254 PPM

Nearest site: 21.4 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

60088

Very Hard

254 PPM

Nearest site: 22.6 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Great Lakes Naval Training Station

PWSID IL0975227

Surface water

System population served: 23,000
Last reported: May 27, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

North Chicago

PWSID IL0971250

Surface water

System population served: 16,813
Last reported: May 27, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Lead and Copper Rule	IL0971250	Jul 1, 2025	Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule	IL0971250	Jul 1, 2025	Unaddressed
Public Notice	IL0971250	Jun 20, 2024	Resolved
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	IL0971250	Apr 1, 2024	Resolved · health-based
Lead and Copper Rule	IL0971250	Oct 1, 2023	Resolved
TTHM	IL0971250	Apr 1, 2023	Resolved · health-based

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Illinois communities

Antioch

Lake County

369 PPM median

Buffalo Grove

Lake County

254 PPM median

Deerfield

Lake County

254 PPM median

Fox Lake

Lake County

363 PPM median

Grayslake

Lake County

251 PPM median

Gurnee

Lake County

251 PPM median

Search all 913 Illinois cities →

Questions people ask

About water in North Chicago

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 254 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.