How does Sedona's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Sedona (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Sedona Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

8.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

854.5 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Sedona, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Sedona	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Sedona compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Sedona, Arizona	≈ 120–179 mg/L	77.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
West Sedona, Arizona	≈ 180+ mg/L	3.1 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	mixed
Cottonwood, Arizona	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Verde Village, Arizona	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Camp Verde, Arizona	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Sedona compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Sedona	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Sedona's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 854.5 mg/LpH: 8.5

The Arizona Water Company provides drinking water to the Sedona area, drawing from a mix of sources. These include surface water from the Verde River system, which is connected to Colorado River allocations, as well as local groundwater aquifers. Before reaching homes and businesses, this water undergoes treatment at facilities designed to meet the stringent standards set by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act.

The Sedona water supply is deeply connected to the Colorado Plateau's geology. The bedrock is mainly Precambrian granite and metamorphic rocks, with Paleozoic sedimentary layers like Redwall Limestone and Coconino Sandstone above them. Because these carbonate-rich layers dissolve easily, they release substantial amounts of calcium and magnesium, leading to the hard water common in central Arizona.

Residents in Sedona may notice scale buildup in appliances like kettles and water heaters, and soap might not lather as effectively. This hardness can also impact the efficiency and lifespan of dishwashers and washing machines. Many homeowners opt for water softeners to combat scale and extend appliance life, though this isn't always necessary. The Arizona Water Company's 2024 report confirms that Sedona's water meets EPA standards for lead and arsenic, with low-level arsenic detected but all service lines exceeding lead safety requirements.

Geology & Source: Precambrian granite and metamorphic rocks; Paleozoic sedimentary formations like Redwall Limestone and Coconino Sandstone contribute to moderate to hard water due to dissolved calcium and magnesium.

Other Arizona Water Reports

West Sedona

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Cottonwood

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Verde Village

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Camp Verde

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sedona's water safe to drink?

Yes. Sedona's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Sedona?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Sedona's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Sedona compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Sedona (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Sedona is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.