How does Auburn Hills's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Auburn Hills (83 mg/L) is 68 mg/L softer than average.

Auburn Hills Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

83mg/L

Moderately Hard

4.8 grains per gallon

Source

river

pH Level

7.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.001 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

358 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.22

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

83mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

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 Auburn Hills, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Auburn Hills	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.6 yrs	8.5 yrs	-11%
Washing Machine	10.7 yrs	12 yrs	-11%
Water Heater	13.4 yrs	15 yrs	-11%

Regional Water Comparison

How Auburn Hills compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Auburn Hills, Michigan	83 mg/L	19.9 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
Pontiac, Michigan	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Rochester Hills, Michigan	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Rochester, Michigan	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Troy, Michigan	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Auburn Hills compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Auburn Hills	83 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Auburn Hills's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 358 mg/LpH: 7.7

Auburn Hills, Michigan is served by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), a regional utility providing water to southeast Michigan. The city receives its water primarily from the Lake Huron Treatment Plant, which draws from the lower Lake Huron watershed. GLWA operates five water treatment plants in total: four facilities obtain water from Detroit River intakes, and the fifth plant — serving Auburn Hills — draws from Lake Huron. The system operates treatment facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The water supply originates from the Great Lakes watershed, specifically Lake Huron for Auburn Hills' primary source. The region's geology is characterized by glacial deposits and bedrock formations rich in dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. These minerals are naturally present in both surface waters and groundwater throughout southeast Michigan, contributing to the mineral content of the treated water supply and the hard water character of the region.

Residents may notice mineral deposits on fixtures, glassware spotting, or scale buildup in appliances and pipes. Water softening systems are commonly recommended for households in this area to reduce scale formation and improve soap efficiency. The practical impact includes potential effects on appliance lifespan and cleaning effectiveness, particularly in dishwashers, water heaters, and laundry applications. The City of Auburn Hills reports that its water system has never violated a maximum contaminant level or any other water quality standard set by the EPA and state drinking water health standards.

Geology & Source: Lake Huron watershed; glacial deposits and calcium/magnesium-rich bedrock formations typical of the Great Lakes region produce hard water

Other Michigan Water Reports

Pontiac

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Rochester Hills

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Rochester

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Troy

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

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 Auburn Hills's water safe to drink?

Yes. Auburn Hills's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 83 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Auburn Hills?

Auburn Hills's water is moderately hard at 83 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Auburn Hills compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Auburn Hills (83 mg/L) is 68 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 Auburn Hills 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.