Drexel Heights Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
19.8 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
931.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.90
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · 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 Drexel Heights, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Drexel Heights | 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 Drexel Heights compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Drexel Heights, Arizona | 339 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Tucson, Arizona | 255.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Flowing Wells, Arizona | 236.5 mg/L | 3.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Casas Adobes, Arizona | 418.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Catalina Foothills, Arizona | 434 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Drexel Heights compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Drexel Heights | 339 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Drexel Heights's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Drexel Heights, Arizona, in Pima County — a major south Tucson suburban community (Drexel Heights is a significant Pima County unincorporated community — a south Tucson suburb adjacent to South Tucson city and the Marana area; Drexel Heights and the south Tucson suburban belt have grown significantly as Tucson's population has expanded southward and westward into the Sonoran Desert; Drexel Heights is situated in the Santa Cruz River corridor south of Tucson, an area with a long history of both agricultural settlement and more recent suburban development), a diverse Pima County community with a primarily Hispanic-American, working-class and lower-middle-class population (Drexel Heights and the south Tucson unincorporated communities are among the most heavily Hispanic-American communities in the greater Tucson area, reflecting the deep Mexican-American cultural heritage of the Santa Cruz Valley), adjacent to South Tucson and Valencia West in the south Pima County corridor, and a community shaped by its position in the Sonoran Desert basin — draws its municipal water supply via the Tucson Water. Water hardness in Drexel Heights measures 339 mg/L — classified as extremely hard.
Drexel Heights's extreme hardness reflects the south Tucson Pima County closed-basin Sonoran Desert aquifer's highly calcareous character. The Tucson Basin aquifer draws from Quaternary calcareous Tucson Basin alluvium (highly calcareous). Very limited softening produces the extreme 339 mg/L.
At 339 mg/L, Drexel Heights residents face severe hard water challenges. Water softeners and regular appliance descaling are essential. Tucson Water consistently delivers water meeting all Arizona ADEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Tucson Basin via the Tucson Water — the Pima County south Tucson Drexel Heights corridor (Quaternary calcareous Tucson Basin alluvium — the extremely calcareous south Tucson Pima County closed-basin Sonoran Desert aquifer; very limited softening); extremely hard at 339 mg/L in Pima County.