Madison Heights Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.6 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
194.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.30
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 Madison Heights, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Madison Heights | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -31% |
| Washing Machine | 9.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -22% |
| Water Heater | 11.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -26% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Madison Heights compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Madison Heights, Michigan | 112.5 mg/L | 6.7 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 |
| Royal Oak, Michigan | 84 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Berkley, Michigan | 160.5 mg/L | 9.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Madison Heights compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Madison Heights | 112.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Madison Heights's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Madison Heights, Michigan, in Oakland County — a major south Oakland County suburban community (Madison Heights is a significant Oakland County city — a south Oakland County inner suburb adjacent to Royal Oak and Hazel Park; Madison Heights is a primarily working-class and middle-class suburban community with a strong Vietnamese-American community (one of the largest Vietnamese-American communities in Michigan — the John R. Road 'Little Saigon' corridor in Madison Heights is one of the most significant Vietnamese-American commercial and cultural districts in the Midwest), a diverse Oakland County community with a significant Vietnamese-American, Arab-American, and working-class population, adjacent to Warren in Macomb County and Clawson in Oakland County, home of significant retail development along the I-75 service drives and John R. Road, and a community with a strong Southeast Asian cultural presence — draws its municipal water supply from Lake Huron via the Great Lakes Water Authority. Water hardness in Madison Heights measures 112.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Madison Heights's moderate hardness reflects the south Oakland County GLWA distribution zone's effective treatment. The GLWA distributes Lake Huron supply to the south Oakland County Madison Heights zone with limited softening, producing the moderate 112.5 mg/L.
At 112.5 mg/L, Madison Heights residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning is recommended. Great Lakes Water Authority consistently delivers water meeting all Michigan EGLE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Lake supply from the Lake Huron (Detroit River watershed) via the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) — the Oakland County south Oakland County suburban Madison Heights corridor (Devonian calcareous-moderate Michigan Basin dolomite — the calcareous south Oakland County GLWA distribution to Madison Heights zone; limited softening); moderately hard supply at 112.5 mg/L in Oakland County.