Oro Valley Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.7 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
443.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.53
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 Oro Valley, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Oro Valley | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -65% |
| Washing Machine | 6.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -48% |
| Water Heater | 7.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -49% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Oro Valley compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Oro Valley, Arizona | 199.5 mg/L | 3 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 |
| Flowing Wells, Arizona | 236.5 mg/L | 3.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Saddlebrooke, Arizona | 371.5 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Oro Valley compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Oro Valley | 199.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Oro Valley's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Oro Valley, Arizona, in Pima County north of Tucson — an affluent Tucson north suburban community, home of the Catalina State Park (Pusch Ridge and Santa Catalina Mountain foothills), Oracle State Park, a major Pima County technology and healthcare community (Ventana Medical Systems, Orbital Sciences), and one of Arizona's fastest-growing and most affluent communities in the Sonoran Desert foothills — draws its municipal water supply from the Tucson Active Management Area aquifer and Central Arizona Project (CAP) Colorado River import via the Town of Oro Valley Water Division. Water hardness in Oro Valley measures 199.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
Oro Valley's hard supply reflects the Tucson Active Management Area basin-fill aquifer's calcareous geology and the CAP Colorado River import's high mineral content. The Avra Valley and Cortaro–Marana aquifer sub-basins are hosted in: Quaternary–Tertiary calcareous basin alluvium (eroded from the Santa Catalina Mountains — Precambrian Pinal Schist and Rincon Valley Metamorphic Core Complex gneiss, moderately calcareous); and Tertiary basin fill (calcareous–gypsiferous sediment from the Sonoran Desert Basin and Range). The CAP Colorado River water (approximately 270–320 mg/L hardness — highly calcareous Colorado River mainstream supply) blended with the local aquifer produces the hard 199.5 mg/L at Oro Valley.
At 199.5 mg/L, Oro Valley residents face regular hard water challenges. Scale deposits form on faucet aerators, showerheads, and appliances within weeks — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is standard maintenance. Town of Oro Valley Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Arizona ADEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Tucson Active Management Area (Avra Valley Sub-basin and Cortaro–Marana Sub-basin) and Central Arizona Project (CAP) Colorado River import via the Town of Oro Valley Water Division — the Pima County Sonoran Desert basin-fill aquifer (Quaternary–Tertiary calcareous basin alluvium and Colorado River import); hard supply at 199.5 mg/L in Pima County.