Traverse City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
13 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
559.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.59
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 Traverse City, your appliances are currently losing 30% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Traverse City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -74% |
| Washing Machine | 5.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -56% |
| Water Heater | 6.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -55% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Traverse City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Traverse City, Michigan | 223 mg/L | 12.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Mount Pleasant, Michigan | 88.5 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Muskegon, Michigan | 116 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Northview, Michigan | 170 mg/L | 9.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Norton Shores, Michigan | 173.5 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Traverse City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Traverse City | 223 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Traverse City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Traverse City, Michigan, in Grand Traverse County — the Grand Traverse County seat adjacent to Acme and Garfield Township on Grand Traverse Bay (Lake Michigan) in northwest Michigan — receives its municipal water from Traverse City Light and Power, drawing from the Boardman River and Boardman Lake (Grand Traverse County) through the northwest Michigan water treatment system.
The very hard 223 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 559.9 mg/L reflect the northwest Michigan Boardman River supply's intense Devonian-Silurian dolomitic character — consistent with other northwest Michigan communities (Cadillac: ~215 mg/L; Elk Rapids: ~220 mg/L). The Boardman River at Grand Traverse County drains the Michigan Lowland — Devonian Traverse Limestone (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Silurian Niagara Dolomite (dolomite — primary TDS contributor), and Devonian Alpena Limestone (calcareous). The Devonian limestone and Silurian dolomite produce the very hard northwest Michigan supply.
At 223 mg/L with TDS 560, Traverse City's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 12.3 ppt is very high — Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Iosco County — AFFF, the dominant northwest Michigan PFAS source with extensive groundwater plume migration), and the Michigan military aviation corridor PFAS complex contribute to Traverse City's very elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Traverse City in Grand Traverse County draws from the Traverse City Light and Power on the Boardman River and Boardman Lake (Grand Traverse County, northwest Michigan) — the Boardman drains the Michigan Lowland (Devonian Traverse Limestone, Silurian Niagara Dolomite — calcareous-dolomitic) — Michigan Grand Traverse County Boardman River Devonian-Silurian dolomitic watershed produces very hard water at 223 mg/L with TDS 559.9 mg/L.