Melvindale Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
423.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.50
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 Melvindale, your appliances are currently losing 25% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Melvindale | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -60% |
| Washing Machine | 6.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -44% |
| Water Heater | 8.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -46% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Melvindale compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Melvindale, Michigan | 187.5 mg/L | 10.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Lincoln Park, Michigan | 204.5 mg/L | 11.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Dearborn, Michigan | 134.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Allen Park, Michigan | 216.5 mg/L | 12 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Southgate, Michigan | 101 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Melvindale compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Melvindale | 187.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Melvindale's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Melvindale, Michigan, in Wayne County — a Wayne County city adjacent to Allen Park and Dearborn in the south Detroit suburbs — receives its water from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), drawing from the Detroit River through the southeast Michigan distribution.
The hard 187.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 423.7 mg/L reflect the Wayne County supply's hard dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Devonian Traverse Limestone are calcareous-dolomitic formations in the Great Lakes Basin; the south Detroit suburbs receive slightly harder water than the GLWA average due to the aging distribution infrastructure that adds mineral accumulation (compare Allen Park MI: 183/414 in Wayne County comparable; Dearborn MI: 191/433 in Wayne County comparable; Melvindale consistent hard from the same Wayne County Detroit River Silurian dolomitic supply). The Detroit River supply — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Traverse Limestone (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Great Lakes glacial till (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 187.5 mg/L with TDS 424, Melvindale's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 10.5 ppt is very high — a certified filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended. Review GLWA's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Melvindale in Wayne County draws from the Great Lakes Water Authority on the Detroit River/Lake Erie supply (Wayne County, southeast Michigan) — the Detroit River at Wayne County draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Devonian Traverse Limestone (calcareous) — Michigan Wayne County Detroit River Silurian dolomitic supply produces hard water at 187.5 mg/L with TDS 423.7 mg/L.