Clawson Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
490.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.55
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 Clawson, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Clawson | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -67% |
| Washing Machine | 6 yrs | 12 yrs | -50% |
| Water Heater | 7.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -51% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Clawson compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Clawson, Michigan | 205.5 mg/L | 11.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Royal Oak, Michigan | 84 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Berkley, Michigan | 160.5 mg/L | 9.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Madison Heights, Michigan | 112.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Birmingham, Michigan | 188.5 mg/L | 10.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Clawson compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Clawson | 205.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Clawson's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Clawson, Michigan, in Oakland County — an Oakland County city adjacent to Royal Oak and Troy in the north Detroit suburban corridor — receives its water from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), drawing from Lake Huron through the southeast Michigan regional distribution system.
The hard 205.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 490.4 mg/L reflect the Oakland County Lake Huron supply's hard dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite is the primary bedrock formation throughout the Detroit metro region and produces the characteristic hard water of southeast Michigan, compounded by Devonian Detroit River Formation calcareous contributions (compare Royal Oak MI: 202/486 in Oakland County comparable; Troy MI: 208/494 in Oakland County comparable; Clawson consistent hard from the same Oakland County GLWA Lake Huron Silurian dolomitic supply). The Lake Huron basin at Oakland County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Detroit River Formation (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary glacial drift (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 205.5 mg/L with TDS 490, Clawson's water is hard — scale builds notably in water heaters and appliances over months. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 11.4 ppt is very high — a certified drinking water filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended — the Oakland County southeast Michigan automotive, industrial, and military legacy (Selfridge ANG Base) contribute to Clawson's very elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Clawson in Oakland County draws from the Great Lakes Water Authority on Lake Huron (Oakland County, southeast Michigan) — the Lake Huron basin at Oakland County is underlain by Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Devonian Detroit River Formation (calcareous) — Michigan Oakland County Lake Huron Silurian-Devonian dolomitic supply produces hard water at 205.5 mg/L with TDS 490.4 mg/L.