Nuuanu - Punchbowl Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.9 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
214.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.18
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 Nuuanu - Punchbowl, your appliances are currently losing 9% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Nuuanu - Punchbowl | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -13% |
| Washing Machine | 11.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -8% |
| Water Heater | 12.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -14% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Nuuanu - Punchbowl compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Nuuanu - Punchbowl, Hawaii | 67.5 mg/L | 1.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Makiki / Lower Punchbowl / Tantalus, Hawaii | 14.5 mg/L | 0.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Kalihi Valley, Hawaii | 48 mg/L | 1.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Liliha - Kapalama, Hawaii | 16 mg/L | 0.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Manoa, Hawaii | 14.5 mg/L | 0.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Nuuanu - Punchbowl compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Nuuanu - Punchbowl | 67.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Nuuanu - Punchbowl home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Nuuanu - Punchbowl's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Nuuanu - Punchbowl, Hawaii, in Honolulu County — a Honolulu County neighborhood adjacent to Punchbowl (National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific) and Nu'uanu Valley in central downtown Honolulu — receives its water from the Oahu Board of Water Supply (BWS), drawing from the Nuuanu Aquifer (central Honolulu watershed, Honolulu County, Oahu).
The moderately soft 67.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 214.7 mg/L reflect central Honolulu's Ko'olau basalt aquifer character — with the TDS/hardness ratio of ~3.2 indicating elevated dissolved basaltic minerals (silica, sodium, potassium from lava rock dissolution). The Nuuanu Aquifer is developed in Pliocene Ko'olau Basalt (insoluble tholeiitic basalt), with minor Quaternary sedimentary caprock zones. The low-calcium volcanic basalt produces the moderately soft supply.
At 67.5 mg/L, Nuuanu-Punchbowl's water is moderately soft — light scale forms slowly in appliances, dishwashers remain efficient, and bathroom fixtures need occasional cleaning. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 1.3 ppt is among the lowest in this dataset — central Honolulu's Nuuanu Aquifer is deep and well-protected from AFFF surface contamination, producing very clean PFAS readings despite the urban downtown Honolulu location.
Geology & Source: Nuuanu - Punchbowl in Honolulu County draws from the Oahu Board of Water Supply on the Nuuanu Aquifer (Honolulu County, central Oahu) — the Nuuanu Aquifer is developed in Pliocene Ko'olau Basalt (insoluble tholeiitic basalt) with minor calcareous perched zones — Hawaii Honolulu County Nuuanu Ko'olau volcanic basalt aquifer produces moderately soft water at 67.5 mg/L with TDS 214.7 mg/L in this Honolulu County Hawaii neighborhood.