Tanque Verde Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
23.3 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1186.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$1.00
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 Tanque Verde, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Tanque Verde | 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 Tanque Verde compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Tanque Verde, Arizona | 399 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Catalina Foothills, Arizona | 434 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Tucson, Arizona | 255.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Casas Adobes, Arizona | 418.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Oro Valley, Arizona | 199.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Tanque Verde compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Tanque Verde | 399 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Tanque Verde's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Tanque Verde, Arizona, in Pima County — an unincorporated Pima County community adjacent to Tucson and Rincon Valley in the northeastern Tucson metro, at the base of the Rincon Mountains in the Sonoran Desert — receives its municipal water from Tucson Water, drawing from the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Colorado River water and local Tucson Basin groundwater wells through the Tucson water system.
The extremely hard 399 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1,186.4 mg/L make Tanque Verde one of the hardest water supplies in the entire USA. The Tucson Basin at Pima County is developed in Quaternary Basin and Range alluvial fill (deeply calcareous Sonoran Desert caliche — very high carbonate content), Triassic Rillito Group (calcareous alluvial fan sediments — major hardness contributor), and supplemented by CAP Colorado River water (already moderately to hard — 200+ mg/L at source). The cumulative calcareous Sonoran Basin alluvium and Colorado River hardness produces the exceptional hardness and TDS.
At 399 mg/L with TDS 1,186, Tanque Verde's water is one of the hardest in the country. A water softener is absolutely essential. Scale forms immediately on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are critically shortened, and water heaters fail within 2 years without treatment. The PFAS level of 5.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (Tucson AFFF — the dominant Tucson metro PFAS source), and the Pima County Tucson metro industrial corridor contribute to Tanque Verde's readings.
Geology & Source: Tanque Verde in Pima County draws from Tucson Water on the Central Arizona Project and local wells (Pima County, northeast Tucson metro) — the Tucson Basin aquifer is developed in Quaternary Basin and Range alluvial fill over Triassic Rillito Group calcareous — Arizona Pima County Basin and Range CAP-local mixed supply produces extremely hard water at 399 mg/L with TDS 1186.4 mg/L in this Pima County Arizona community.