How does Tahlequah's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Tahlequah (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Tahlequah Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

59 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Tahlequah, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Tahlequah	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Tahlequah compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Tahlequah, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	35.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Muskogee, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Siloam Springs, Arkansas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	50.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Claremore, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Fort Smith, Arkansas	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	river

National Benchmark

How Tahlequah compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Tahlequah	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Tahlequah's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 59 mg/LpH: 7.7

TAHLEQUAH PWA (Public Works Authority) serves the city of Tahlequah in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, providing drinking water from surface water sources: the Illinois River and Lake Tenkiller. Water is treated via conventional filtration and disinfection with chlorine and chlorine dioxide at facilities managed by the utility. Contact the utility at 918-456-2564 or P.O. Box 29, Tahlequah, OK 74464 for service details. No specific treatment plant names are detailed in available data, but the system serves the broader Tahlequah service area.

The watershed encompasses the Illinois River basin and Lake Tenkiller reservoir in the Ozark Mountains foothills, characterized by karst landscapes with Paleozoic limestone and dolomite formations from Ordovician to Mississippian periods, including the Everton Formation and Springfield Plateau limestone. These carbonate rocks dissolve readily through surface runoff and subsurface flow in fractured karst systems, imparting a moderately mineralized quality to the surface water with notable dissolved solids from limestone weathering.

At moderately hard levels, scale buildup occurs on fixtures, reducing efficiency in water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, while leaving spots on glassware and soap scum in bathrooms. Faucets and showerheads may clog over time. Regular vinegar descaling, installing scale-inhibiting filters, and keeping surfaces dry are recommended. A water softener is advised to mitigate scale and extend appliance life. The utility reports 5 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines and 12 MCL violations on record; treatment uses conventional filtration with chlorine and chlorine dioxide disinfection.

Geology & Source: Ozark Plateau karst; Paleozoic Ordovician-Mississippian limestone and dolomite (Everton Formation, Springfield Plateau limestone) in Illinois River-Lake Tenkiller watershed — carbonate dissolution produces moderately mineralized water

Other Oklahoma Water Reports

Muskogee

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Siloam Springs

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Claremore

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Fort Smith

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tahlequah's water safe to drink?

Yes. Tahlequah's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Tahlequah?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Tahlequah's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Tahlequah compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Tahlequah (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Tahlequah is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.