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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Forest Hills (≈ 60–119 mg/L) is 61 mg/L softer than average.

Forest Hills Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

moderately hard

~60–119 mg/L

Moderately Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

260.6 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.24

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

moderately hard~60–119 mg/LModerately Hard · 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 Forest Hills, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Forest Hills	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.5 yrs	8.5 yrs	-12%
Washing Machine	10.6 yrs	12 yrs	-12%
Water Heater	13.2 yrs	15 yrs	-12%

Regional Water Comparison

How Forest Hills compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Forest Hills, Michigan	≈ 60–119 mg/L	7.9 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
East Grand Rapids, Michigan	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Northview, Michigan	≈ 180+ mg/L	9.6 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Grand Rapids, Michigan	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Kentwood, Michigan	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Forest Hills compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Forest Hills	≈ 60–119 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Forest Hills's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 260.6 mg/LpH: 7.9

Forest Hills, Michigan is located in Kent County, though the specific water utility serving the township — whether a municipal system, regional supplier, or private utility — could not be definitively identified from available sources. Residents seeking water quality information should contact Forest Hills Township offices directly or consult the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for utility registration and service area details. The most recent Consumer Confidence Report or the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) can provide utility-specific data using the water system ID number.

The area sits within the Grand River watershed in Kent County, draining Mississippian-age limestone and dolomite formations of the Michigan Basin — particularly the Traverse Group limestones and calcium-rich glacial till. Regional Kent County groundwater supplies typically flow through glacial deposits and underlying bedrock formations, contributing to hard water conditions. These geological factors generally produce moderate hardness characteristic of West Michigan.

Regional groundwater in Kent County typically exhibits hard water conditions due to the calcium-rich geology, meaning residents may experience scale buildup on fixtures and in appliances like water heaters and dishwashers. Hard water reduces soap efficiency and can affect appliance lifespan over time. Residents should confirm specific hardness levels and obtain accurate water quality information directly from their water provider or via the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) using their water system ID number.

Geology & Source: Grand River watershed, Kent County — Mississippian-age limestone and dolomite of the Michigan Basin; Traverse Group limestones and calcium-rich glacial till produce moderate hardness typical of West Michigan

Other Michigan Water Reports

East Grand Rapids

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Northview

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Grand Rapids

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Kentwood

≈ 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 Forest Hills's water safe to drink?

Yes. Forest Hills's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 60–119 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 Forest Hills?

Forest Hills's water is moderately hard at ≈ 60–119 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Forest Hills compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Forest Hills (≈ 60–119 mg/L) is 61 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 Forest 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.