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

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

Tulsa Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

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

Appliance	In Tulsa	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 Tulsa compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Tulsa, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	10 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Sand Springs, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Jenks, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Owasso, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Sapulpa, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Tulsa compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Tulsa	≈ 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 Tulsa's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 963.4 mg/LpH: 8.5

Tulsa's municipal water supply is operated by the Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority (TMUA), drawing surface water from two primary reservoirs: Lake Oologah and Skiatook Lake, both impounded on tributaries of the Verdigris River in northeastern Oklahoma. A secondary supply is drawn from the Arkansas River through the Mohawk Water Treatment Plant during high-demand periods. Sources are treated at the A.B. Jewell Water Treatment Plant (Skiatook supply) and the Mohawk plant before entering Tulsa's distribution network.

Tulsa water measures a hardness of 175 mg/L, placing it in the moderately hard range. The Verdigris River and its tributaries flow through a varied geological landscape: Pennsylvanian-age sandstones, shales, and coal-measure sequences dominate the reservoir catchments in the Osage Hills, with localised exposure of Mississippian Burlington Limestone and Ordovician carbonate formations in the Ozark uplift to the northeast. These calcareous exposures contribute calcium bicarbonate to the water, raising hardness above the soft-water basins of the Pacific Northwest, though significantly below the evaporite-influenced extreme hardness typical of western and south-central Texas groundwater.

At 175 mg/L, Tulsa water is moderately hard — enough to cause noticeable limescale inside electric kettles after a few months of use, gradual mineral deposits inside dishwashers and water heaters, and slightly reduced soap and shampoo lather. Installing a whole-house softener or at minimum an under-sink reverse osmosis system is a popular choice among Tulsa residents looking to protect appliances and improve water feel for bathing and laundry. Tulsa Water consistently meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

Geology & Source: Verdigris River Pennsylvanian sandstone and shale; Mississippian Burlington Limestone exposure in northeast Oklahoma Ozark uplift — moderately hard surface reservoir supply

Hardness Varies Across Tulsa — Find Your Area

City average is ≈ 120–179 mg/L. Individual ZIP areas differ.

* ZIP code estimates are derived from the city-wide measurement. Actual readings may vary slightly by neighbourhood.

ZIP Code	Neighbourhood	Hardness (mg/L)	Risk Level
74129	Southeast Tulsa	≈ 146	🟠 Hard
74107	West Tulsa	≈ 147	🟠 Hard
74104	Brookside	≈ 150	🟠 Hard
74103	Downtown	≈ 151	🟠 Hard
74106	North Tulsa	≈ 152	🟠 Hard
74112	Midtown	≈ 152	🟠 Hard
74110	North Tulsa East	≈ 153	🟠 Hard
74133	South Tulsa South	≈ 153	🟠 Hard
74105	South Tulsa	≈ 153	🟠 Hard
74108	East Tulsa	≈ 153	🟠 Hard
74114	Midtown South / Cherry Street	≈ 153	🟠 Hard
74119	Downtown West	≈ 153	🟠 Hard

Other Oklahoma Water Reports

Sand Springs

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Jenks

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Owasso

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Sapulpa

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

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 Tulsa's water safe to drink?

Yes. Tulsa'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 Tulsa?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Tulsa'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 Tulsa compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Tulsa (≈ 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 Tulsa 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.