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Water hardness · by city

Hard Water by City: How Hard Is Your Tap Water?

Hardness for 151 US cities, in grains per gallon, from each utility's own water-quality report. Hardness affects scale and appliances; it is not a health finding.

See the citiesSoftener options
Cities ranked by hardness

All 151 cities

  1. 1OxnardCA24.5 gpg418.6 mg/LVery hard
  2. 2Salt Lake CityUT20.7 gpgVery hard
  3. 3HendersonNV17.8 gpg304 mg/LVery hard
  4. 4San AntonioTX17.5 gpg300 mg/LVery hard
  5. 5Kansas CityKS16.4 gpg280 mg/LVery hard
  6. 6Las VegasNV16.4 gpg280 mg/LVery hard
  7. 7Garden GroveCA15.8 gpgVery hard
  8. 8Laguna NiguelCA15.4 gpgVery hard
  9. 9Round RockTX15.1 gpg258 mg/LVery hard
  10. 10AllentownPA15 gpg256 mg/LVery hard
  11. 11Rancho Santa Margarita AreaCA15 gpg256 mg/LVery hard
  12. 12IrvineCA14.8 gpgVery hard
  13. 13PhoenixAZ14.7 gpg251 mg/LVery hard
  14. 14ScottsdaleAZ14.6 gpg250 mg/LVery hard
  15. 15GlendaleCA14.3 gpgVery hard
  16. 16San BernardinoCA14.2 gpg242.2 mg/LVery hard
  17. 17MesaAZ14 gpg240 mg/LVery hard
  18. 18AmarilloTX13.9 gpg238 mg/LVery hard
  19. 19GlendaleAZ13.9 gpg237 mg/LVery hard
  20. 20Corpus ChristiTX13.8 gpg236 mg/LVery hard
  21. 21Santa AnaCA13.8 gpgVery hard
  22. 22BrownsvilleTX13.7 gpgVery hard
  23. 23ChandlerAZ13.5 gpgVery hard
  24. 24ThorntonCO13.5 gpg230 mg/LVery hard
  25. 25PasadenaCA13 gpg222 mg/LVery hard
  26. 26San DiegoCA12.9 gpg220 mg/LVery hard
  27. 27Pinellas CountyFL12.7 gpg217 mg/LVery hard
  28. 28EscondidoCA12.6 gpg215 mg/LVery hard
  29. 29TucsonAZ12.4 gpgVery hard
  30. 30TampaFL12.3 gpg211 mg/LVery hard
  31. 31TempeAZ12.3 gpg211 mg/LVery hard
  32. 32Sioux FallsSD12.2 gpgVery hard
  33. 33Moreno ValleyCA12.1 gpgVery hard
  34. 34AbileneTX12 gpgVery hard
  35. 35Huntington BeachCA11.6 gpgVery hard
  36. 36ModestoCA11.6 gpg199 mg/LVery hard
  37. 37National CityCA11.3 gpg193 mg/LVery hard
  38. 38RiversideCA11.3 gpg194 mg/LVery hard
  39. 39LincolnNE11.2 gpg192 mg/LVery hard
  40. 40Temecula AreaCA11.1 gpgVery hard
  41. 41GilbertAZ10.8 gpg184.4 mg/LVery hard
  42. 42VistaCA10.6 gpgVery hard
  43. 43El PasoTX10.2 gpg175 mg/LHard
  44. 44FriscoTX10.2 gpg175 mg/LHard
  45. 45Long BeachCA10.2 gpg175 mg/LHard
  46. 46Grand PrairieTX9.9 gpg170 mg/LHard
  47. 47LubbockTX9.9 gpg169 mg/LHard
  48. 48PomonaCA9.7 gpgHard
  49. 49St. PetersburgFL9.6 gpg165 mg/LHard
  50. 50SurpriseAZ9.5 gpgHard
  51. 51OmahaNE9 gpg154 mg/LHard
  52. 52OceansideCA8.9 gpgHard
  53. 53OlatheKS8.8 gpg150 mg/LHard
  54. 54GarlandTX8.7 gpgHard
  55. 55MesquiteTX8.7 gpgHard
  56. 56PlanoTX8.7 gpgHard
  57. 57StocktonCA8.6 gpgHard
  58. 58CoronaCA8.5 gpg146 mg/LHard
  59. 59FontanaCA8.3 gpgHard
  60. 60ChicagoIL8.2 gpg140 mg/LHard
  61. 61Los AngelesCA8.2 gpg140 mg/LHard
  62. 62PhiladelphiaPA8.2 gpg140 mg/LHard
  63. 63EvansvilleIN8.1 gpg138 mg/LHard
  64. 64SacramentoCA8.1 gpg138 mg/LHard
  65. 65AuroraCO8 gpg136 mg/LHard
  66. 66SpringfieldMO8 gpg137.3 mg/LHard
  67. 67AuroraIL7.9 gpgHard
  68. 68HoustonTX7.9 gpg135.5 mg/LHard
  69. 69Jefferson Parish (West Bank)LA7.9 gpgHard
  70. 70Overland ParkKS7.9 gpg135 mg/LHard
  71. 71CincinnatiOH7.8 gpgHard
  72. 72MetairieLA7.8 gpgHard
  73. 73OntarioCA7.8 gpgHard
  74. 74WestminsterCO7.7 gpgHard
  75. 75Fort WayneIN7.6 gpg130 mg/LHard
  76. 76HuntsvilleAL7.6 gpg130 mg/LHard
  77. 77Fort WorthTX7.5 gpgHard
  78. 78St. LouisMO7.5 gpg129 mg/LHard
  79. 79Ann ArborMI7.4 gpg126 mg/LHard
  80. 80Northern KentuckyKY7.4 gpgHard
  81. 81Washington, DCDC7.4 gpg126 mg/LHard
  82. 82Rancho CucamongaCA7.3 gpg125.5 mg/LHard
  83. 83ChesterPA7 gpgHard
  84. 84Coachella Valley (Cove Communities)CA7 gpg120 mg/LHard
  85. 85EriePA7 gpg119 mg/LModerately hard
  86. 86ClevelandOH6.8 gpg117 mg/LModerately hard
  87. 87ColumbusOH6.7 gpg115 mg/LModerately hard
  88. 88Palmdale DistCA6.7 gpgModerately hard
  89. 89Iowa CityIA6.5 gpg112 mg/LModerately hard
  90. 90Santa RosaCA6.5 gpg112 mg/LModerately hard
  91. 91AkronOH6.3 gpg107 mg/LModerately hard
  92. 92BoiseID6.3 gpg108 mg/LModerately hard
  93. 93DetroitMI6.3 gpg107 mg/LModerately hard
  94. 94TrentonNJ6.3 gpg107 mg/LModerately hard
  95. 95AnchorageAK6.2 gpgModerately hard
  96. 96DenverCO6.1 gpg105 mg/LModerately hard
  97. 97WarrenMI6.1 gpg105 mg/LModerately hard
  98. 98Cape CoralFL6 gpgModerately hard
  99. 99NashvilleTN5.9 gpg100.5 mg/LModerately hard
  100. 100LansingMI5.7 gpg98 mg/LModerately hard
  101. 101MinneapolisMN5.7 gpg97 mg/LModerately hard
  102. 102LancasterCA5.6 gpgModerately hard
  103. 103AustinTX5.4 gpg93 mg/LModerately hard
  104. 104VancouverWA5.4 gpgModerately hard
  105. 105BloomingtonMN5.2 gpgModerately hard
  106. 106BuffaloNY5.2 gpg89 mg/LModerately hard
  107. 107FremontCA5.2 gpgModerately hard
  108. 108Clark CountyWA5.1 gpg87 mg/LModerately hard
  109. 109OaklandCA5.1 gpgModerately hard
  110. 110KentWA5 gpgModerately hard
  111. 111San RafaelCA5 gpgModerately hard
  112. 112WildwoodNJ4.6 gpg78 mg/LModerately hard
  113. 113ChattanoogaTN4.4 gpg76 mg/LModerately hard
  114. 114Jersey CityNJ4.4 gpg75 mg/LModerately hard
  115. 115ConcordCA4.3 gpg74 mg/LModerately hard
  116. 116Sacramento SuburbsCA4.3 gpgModerately hard
  117. 117BakersfieldCA4 gpgModerately hard
  118. 118Newport NewsVA4 gpg69 mg/LModerately hard
  119. 119ClovisCA3.8 gpgModerately hard
  120. 120RichmondVA3.6 gpg61 mg/LModerately hard
  121. 121San FranciscoCA3.6 gpg62 mg/LModerately hard
  122. 122HaywardCA3.5 gpg60 mg/LModerately hard
  123. 123RosevilleCA3.5 gpgModerately hard
  124. 124Virginia BeachVA3.3 gpg56 mg/LSoft
  125. 125ArvadaCO3.2 gpgSoft
  126. 126CharlestonSC3.2 gpg54 mg/LSoft
  127. 127Federal WayWA3.2 gpg54.1 mg/LSoft
  128. 128Elk Grove Area (Laguna/Vineyard)CA2.9 gpgSoft
  129. 129WilmingtonNC2.9 gpg50 mg/LSoft
  130. 130MemphisTN2.8 gpg48 mg/LSoft
  131. 131NorfolkVA2.8 gpg48 mg/LSoft
  132. 132MobileAL2.6 gpgSoft
  133. 133PortlandOR2.5 gpgSoft
  134. 134ColumbiaSC2.1 gpg36 mg/LSoft
  135. 135VictorvilleCA2.1 gpg36 mg/LSoft
  136. 136EvansGA2 gpgSoft
  137. 137CharlotteNC1.9 gpg32 mg/LSoft
  138. 138New York CityNY1.9 gpg32 mg/LSoft
  139. 139SeattleWA1.8 gpg30 mg/LSoft
  140. 140WorcesterMA1.8 gpg30 mg/LSoft
  141. 141CaryNC1.6 gpg28 mg/LSoft
  142. 142Baton RougeLA1.5 gpgSoft
  143. 143KirklandWA1.5 gpg25 mg/LSoft
  144. 144RaleighNC1.5 gpg25.2 mg/LSoft
  145. 145BellevueWA1.4 gpg24.1 mg/LSoft
  146. 146BellinghamWA1.3 gpg21.8 mg/LSoft
  147. 147UticaNY1.3 gpg22 mg/LSoft
  148. 148Winston-SalemNC1 gpg17.5 mg/LSoft
  149. 149South Snohomish CountyWA0.7 gpg12.5 mg/LSoft
  150. 150PortlandME0.4 gpg7.2 mg/LSoft
  151. 151AshevilleNC0.3 gpg5.5 mg/LSoft

Ticks mark the USGS bands at 3.5, 7 and 10.5 gpg (60, 120 and 180 mg/L as CaCO₃). 1 gpg = 17.1 mg/L.

By state

Does your state have hard water?

The range across the listed cities in each state. A wide range means hardness depends on the utility, not the state.

  • Alabama2.6–7.6 gpg
    2 cities · Mobile to Huntsville
  • Alaska6.2 gpg
    Anchorage
  • Arizona9.5–14.7 gpg
    9 cities · Surprise to Phoenix
  • California2.1–24.5 gpg
    44 cities · Victorville to Oxnard
  • Colorado3.2–13.5 gpg
    5 cities · Arvada to Thornton
  • Washington, DC
  • Florida6–12.7 gpg
    4 cities · Cape Coral to Pinellas County
  • Georgia2 gpg
    Evans
  • Idaho6.3 gpg
    Boise
  • Illinois7.9–8.2 gpg
    2 cities · Aurora to Chicago
  • Indiana7.6–8.1 gpg
    2 cities · Fort Wayne to Evansville
  • Iowa6.5 gpg
    Iowa City
  • Kansas7.9–16.4 gpg
    3 cities · Overland Park to Kansas City
  • Kentucky7.4 gpg
    Northern Kentucky
  • Louisiana1.5–7.9 gpg
    3 cities · Baton Rouge to Jefferson Parish (West Bank)
  • Maine0.4 gpg
    Portland
  • Worcester
  • Michigan5.7–7.4 gpg
    4 cities · Lansing to Ann Arbor
  • Minnesota5.2–5.7 gpg
    2 cities · Bloomington to Minneapolis
  • Missouri7.5–8 gpg
    2 cities · St. Louis to Springfield
  • Nebraska9–11.2 gpg
    2 cities · Omaha to Lincoln
  • Nevada16.4–17.8 gpg
    2 cities · Las Vegas to Henderson
  • New Jersey4.4–6.3 gpg
    3 cities · Jersey City to Trenton
  • New York1.3–5.2 gpg
    3 cities · Utica to Buffalo
  • North Carolina0.3–2.9 gpg
    6 cities · Asheville to Wilmington
  • Ohio6.3–7.8 gpg
    4 cities · Akron to Cincinnati
  • Oregon2.5 gpg
    Portland
  • Pennsylvania7–15 gpg
    4 cities · Chester to Allentown
  • South Carolina2.1–3.2 gpg
    2 cities · Columbia to Charleston
  • South Dakota12.2 gpg
    Sioux Falls
  • Tennessee2.8–5.9 gpg
    3 cities · Memphis to Nashville
  • Texas5.4–17.5 gpg
    16 cities · Austin to San Antonio
  • Utah20.7 gpg
    Salt Lake City
  • Virginia2.8–4 gpg
    4 cities · Norfolk to Newport News
  • Washington0.7–5.4 gpg
    9 cities · South Snohomish County to Vancouver
What to do about hard water

Softening is a comfort choice, not a safety one.

Neither is a health treatment, and neither removes PFAS or lead.

Questions

Frequently asked

Which US cities have the hardest tap water?

Among the 151 cities whose utility reports give a hardness value, the hardest are Oxnard, CA (24.5 gpg), Salt Lake City, UT (20.7 gpg), Henderson, NV (17.8 gpg). Many more cities have hard water; PurityMap lists only those with a utility report on file.

What is hard water?

Hard water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium picked up from rock and soil, most often in groundwater. It is measured in grains per gallon (gpg) or mg/L as calcium carbonate; 1 gpg is 17.1 mg/L. Above about 7 gpg is generally considered hard, and above 10.5 gpg very hard.

Is hard water a health concern?

Hardness has no federal health-based limit. It causes scale on fixtures, water heaters and appliances and makes soap lather less, which is why it is treated as an aesthetic and maintenance issue. Softening adds some sodium, which matters for people on low-sodium diets.

How do I find my water hardness?

Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (water quality report) usually lists hardness. Home test strips give a quick reading, and a city page here shows the utility's value where the report is on file.