Amherstburg Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
lake
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
831.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.85
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 Amherstburg, your appliances are currently losing 42% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Amherstburg | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Amherstburg compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Amherstburg, Ontario | 317 mg/L | Very High | 🔴 Very Hard |
| LaSalle, Ontario | 340 mg/L | Very High | 🔴 Very Hard |
| Windsor, Ontario | 145 mg/L | High | 🟠 Hard |
| Tecumseh, Ontario | 271.5 mg/L | Very High | 🔴 Very Hard |
| Kingsville, Ontario | 301 mg/L | Very High | 🔴 Very Hard |
National Benchmark
How Amherstburg compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Amherstburg | 317 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Amherstburg's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Amherstburg's drinking water is managed by the Town of Amherstburg, drawing from the Detroit River or Lake Erie via the Essex County water supply system — Amherstburg is a historic town on the Detroit River at the southern tip of Essex County, the site of Fort Malden (a key War of 1812 British fortification on the Detroit River), the Amherstburg Freedom Museum (celebrating the Underground Railroad terminus in Essex County, the final destination for enslaved people crossing the Detroit River to freedom in Canada), and a scenic Windsor-area lakefront community. Water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, fully meeting the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ). Hardness measures 317 mg/L (18.5 gpg) — classified as very hard by Health Canada, with TDS of 831.6 mg/L — consistent with the extreme hardness of the Essex County Lake Erie–Detroit River supply.
Amherstburg's 317 mg/L is consistent with the Essex County supply corridor — harder than Kingsville (301 mg/L from reference data) and Lake St. Clair zones (255–271.5 mg/L), reflecting the western Lake Erie–Detroit River system's high dissolved mineral content from the Silurian dolostone and Detroit River Group carbonate formations surrounding the western Lake Erie basin. The Detroit River and western Lake Erie carry dissolved calcium, magnesium, sulphate, and bicarbonate from the ancient Silurian Salina and Guelph evaporite formations of the Michigan Basin.
At 317 mg/L, Amherstburg homeowners face severe and persistent scale challenges — weekly kettle cleaning, frequent showerhead descaling, and shortened hot water tank lifespans are expected. Whole-home water softeners are near-essential. The Town of Amherstburg provides water quality information at amherstburg.ca. Health Canada lead precautionary guidance applies to pre-1975 properties in the historic Amherstburg Fort Malden townsite and the established residential streets adjacent to the Detroit River shoreline.
Geology & Source: Supplied by the County of Essex or Town of Amherstburg from the Detroit River or Lake Erie via the Essex County water supply system — the Amherstburg supply from the western Lake Erie–Detroit River system produces very hard water at 317 mg/L (18.5 gpg), with TDS of 831.6 mg/L.