Novi Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The City of Novi Water Utility, in partnership with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), provides drinking water to approximately 44,374 residents in Novi, Michigan, located in Oakland County. Water is purchased as treated surface water sourced primarily from Lake Huron via the GLWA system, with treatment occurring at GLWA facilities handling Detroit River and Lake Huron intakes. Final distribution is managed by the City of Novi from 45175 Ten Mile Road. The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, available on the city's official website, details compliance with state and federal standards.

The supply originates from the Lake Huron watershed within the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin, where surface water contacts Paleozoic bedrock of Devonian age — specifically limestone and dolomite formations that developed approximately 400 million years ago. These carbonate rocks naturally leach alkaline earth minerals, shaping a hard supply with elevated calcium and magnesium content. Local geology in Oakland County, influenced by Michigan's aquifer systems documented in USGS reports, further enhances this mineral profile through natural dissolution processes.

In a hard supply like Novi's, scale buildup occurs in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan while increasing energy costs. Skin and hair may feel drier, and soaps lather poorly, requiring more detergent. Maintenance includes regular descaling of fixtures, installing sediment filters, and vinegar soaks for appliances; a water softener is often recommended for Novi homes. The 2023 CCR reports low turbidity at 0.14 NTU with full compliance; lead and copper standards are met through corrosion control, and contaminants including bromate, total trihalomethanes, chromium-6, and strontium are monitored with no exceedances noted.