Varsity Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
558.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.66
energy & soap waste
Source: Health Canada Water Quality · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Varsity, your appliances are currently losing 33% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Varsity | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -63% |
| Water Heater | 5.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -63% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Varsity compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Varsity, Alberta | 249 mg/L | Very High | 🔴 Very Hard |
| Bowness, Alberta | 216.5 mg/L | Very High | 🔴 Very Hard |
| Edgemont, Alberta | 255.5 mg/L | Very High | 🔴 Very Hard |
| West Springs, Alberta | 188.5 mg/L | High | 🔴 Very Hard |
| Citadel, Alberta | 234.5 mg/L | Very High | 🔴 Very Hard |
National Benchmark
How Varsity compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Varsity | 249 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Varsity's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Varsity's drinking water is managed by the City of Calgary, drawing from the Bow River at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant — Calgary's northwest water treatment facility. Water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, fully meeting the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ). Hardness in Varsity is 249 mg/L (14.5 gpg) — classified as very hard by Health Canada, at the upper end of the Bearspaw plant northwest Calgary distribution.
Varsity (a mid-size residential community in northwest Calgary adjacent to the University of Calgary campus and the Brentwood-Varsity commercial corridor — Varsity Estates and Varsity Acres are established post-war and 1970s residential communities of single-family homes and cul-de-sacs on the northwest Calgary plateau overlooking the Bow River valley, home to a significant proportion of University of Calgary faculty, healthcare professionals from Foothills Medical Centre, and established northwest Calgary families near the Children's Hospital Campus and the Market Mall commercial centre) draws from the Bow River Bearspaw plant supply. The Bow River carries dissolved Devonian carbonate from the Rocky Mountain Front Ranges, producing very hard supply throughout the Calgary system. At 249 mg/L, Varsity is at the upper end of the Bearspaw northwest Calgary range.
At 249 mg/L, Varsity homeowners face persistent scale challenges — monthly to bimonthly kettle and showerhead descaling is typical. Hot water tanks benefit from periodic inspection and flushing. The City of Calgary provides water quality information at calgary.ca/water. Health Canada lead precautionary guidance applies to pre-1975 properties in the 1960s–1970s Varsity Estates and Varsity Acres development.
Geology & Source: Supplied by City of Calgary from the Bow River via the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant — the Varsity northwest Calgary distribution zone carries very hard supply at 249 mg/L (14.5 gpg), at the upper end of the Bearspaw plant northwest Calgary distribution.