Highland Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.2 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
322.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.42
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 Highland Park, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Highland Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -48% |
| Washing Machine | 7.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -35% |
| Water Heater | 9.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -38% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Highland Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Highland Park, Michigan | 157.5 mg/L | 9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Hamtramck, Michigan | 103.5 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Hazel Park, Michigan | 134 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Ferndale, Michigan | 104.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Madison Heights, Michigan | 112.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Highland Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Highland Park | 157.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Highland Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Highland Park, Michigan, in Wayne County — a Wayne County city entirely surrounded by Detroit — an independent city within Detroit — receives its water from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), drawing from the Detroit River through the southeast Michigan distribution.
The hard 157.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 322.5 mg/L reflect the Wayne County Detroit River supply's hard calcareous character — the Devonian Detroit River Limestone is a highly calcareous formation in the Michigan Basin, while the Silurian Salina Formation contains evaporite beds that elevate TDS in the southeast Michigan water supply (compare Detroit MI: 154/315 in Wayne County comparable; Hamtramck MI: 160/330 in Wayne County comparable; Highland Park consistent hard from the same Wayne County Detroit River Devonian calcareous supply). The Detroit River supply — Devonian Detroit River Limestone (highly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Silurian Salina Formation (evaporitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Lake Erie alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 157.5 mg/L with TDS 323, Highland Park's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 9.0 ppt is very elevated — a certified filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended. Review GLWA's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Highland Park in Wayne County draws from the GLWA on the Detroit River supply (Wayne County, southeast Michigan) — the Detroit watershed draws from Devonian Detroit River Limestone (highly calcareous) and Silurian Salina Formation (evaporitic) — Michigan Wayne County Detroit River Devonian calcareous supply produces hard water at 157.5 mg/L with TDS 322.5 mg/L.