Water hardness, which primarily means the concentration of dissolved substances like calcium and magnesium, can greatly differ across Pennsylvania. The commonwealth, situated towards the eastern seaboard, often experiences varied water hardness levels, unlike regions such as the Midwest which are prone to higher hardness levels.
Concentrating on Michigan, the specific hardness measurements gathered from several towns and cities show an inclination towards moderate to high hardness levels, compared to the national average. As such, Michigan’s water is generally classified in the ‘moderate to hard’ category. This feature has significant implications in areas such as the water’s taste and the effectiveness of cleaning substances like soaps and detergents. It is worth noting that these hardness levels can vary and are subject to change based on local geological conditions and differences in water sources.
The cities analyzed in this dataset reveal a diversity of hardness levels in the water supplies listed, measured in Parts Per Million (ppm) and Grains Per Gallon (gpg). Cities like Detroit, Dearborn, and Livonia, report high hardness levels, with levels going beyond 90 ppm, 5.26 gpg. On the other hand, Water hardness in Allen Park and Grosse Pointe Farms is low, under 30 ppm, 1.75 gpg. A portion of the cities, including Grand Rapids, Warren, and Sterling Heights, do not provide data regarding water hardness.
City | Hardness ppm (mg/L) | Hardness gpg | Information Source | Notes |
Detroit | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Grand Rapids | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Warren | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Sterling Heights | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Ann Arbor | 62.0 | 3.6 | Link | |
Lansing | 98.0 | 5.7 | Link | |
Dearborn | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Livonia | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Troy | 77.0 | 4.5 | Link | The stated average is lower than the “min” in the range in this document for all the values. This might be an error on Troy’s part. The average might be 80ppm instead, but I filled the sheet as it is reported exactly in the document to stay consistent with all the others. |
Westland | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Farmington Hills | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Flint | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Wyoming | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Rochester Hills | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Southfield | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Kalamazoo | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Novi | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Lower Lake Huron |
Taylor | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Dearborn Heights | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Pontiac | n/a | n/a | Link | |
St. Clair Shores | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Royal Oak | 99.0 | 5.8 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Kentwood | 144.0 | 8.4 | Link | |
Battle Creek | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Portage | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Roseville | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
East Lansing | 122.5 | 7.2 | Link | |
Saginaw | 110.0 | 6.4 | Link | |
Midland | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Lincoln Park | 94.0 | 5.5 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Muskegon | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Eastpointe | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Holland | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Bay City | 102.0 | 6.0 | Link | |
Jackson | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Southgate | 94.0 | 5.5 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Burton | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Oak Park | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Port Huron | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Madison Heights | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Allen Park | 7.0 | 0.4 | Link | |
Hamtramck | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Garden City | 530.0 | 31.0 | Link | Took median of range |
Inkster | 104.0 | 6.1 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Norton Shores | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Walker | n/a | n/a | Link | Served by Grand Rapids |
Romulus | 94.0 | 5.5 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Auburn Hills | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Wyandotte | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Birmingham | 99.0 | 5.8 | Link | |
Mount Pleasant | 117.0 | 6.8 | Link | |
Adrian | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Marquette | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Monroe | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Ypsilanti | 93.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Ferndale | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Trenton | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Wayne | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Wixom | 270.8 | 15.8 | Link | |
Grosse Pointe Woods | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Grandville | 143.0 | 8.4 | Link | |
Traverse City | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Mount Clemens | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Harper Woods | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Berkley | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Hazel Park | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Owosso | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Fraser | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Coldwater | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Sault Ste. Marie | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Rochester | 393.0 | 23.0 | ||
Woodhaven | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Melvindale | 94.0 | 5.5 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Escanaba | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Riverview | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
New Baltimore | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Fenton | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Niles | n/a | n/a | Link | |
South Lyon | 323.0 | 18.9 | Link | |
Ionia | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Farmington | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Hardness not listed, took Detroit value because city sources from: Detroit River |
Grosse Pointe Park | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
East Grand Rapids | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Clawson | 99.0 | 5.8 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Sturgis | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Grand Haven | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Beverly Hills | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Flat Rock | 94.0 | 5.5 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Cadillac | 143.0 | 8.4 | Link | |
Alpena | 111.0 | 6.5 | Link | |
Howell | 118.0 | 6.9 | Link | |
Grosse Pointe Farms | 29.0 | 1.7 | Link | As Calcium |
Muskegon Heights | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Marysville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Alma | 140.0 | 8.2 | Link | Took median of range. Hardness info directly on city webpage, wasn’t in CCR |
Plymouth | 92.0 | 5.4 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Ecorse | 104.0 | 6.1 | Link | Sources from Detroit River |
Charlotte | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Greenville | 327.0 | 19.1 | Link | |
Benton Harbor | n/a | n/a | Link |
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon
Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.
These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.