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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Medford (≈ 60–119 mg/L) is 61 mg/L softer than average.

Medford Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

moderately hard

~60–119 mg/L

Moderately Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.8

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

229.3 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.24

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

moderately hard~60–119 mg/LModerately Hard · 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 Medford, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Medford	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.5 yrs	8.5 yrs	-12%
Washing Machine	10.6 yrs	12 yrs	-12%
Water Heater	13.2 yrs	15 yrs	-12%

Regional Water Comparison

How Medford compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Medford, Oregon	≈ 60–119 mg/L	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Central Point, Oregon	≈ 0–60 mg/L	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Ashland, Oregon	≈ 0–60 mg/L	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Grants Pass, Oregon	59 mg/L	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Roseburg, Oregon	51 mg/L	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Medford compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Medford	≈ 60–119 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Medford's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 229.3 mg/LpH: 7.8

Medford Water Commission serves approximately 85,000 residents in Medford, Oregon, primarily in Jackson County. The utility draws from two primary sources: Big Butte Springs groundwater and the Rogue River surface water. Water from Big Butte Springs is collected at collection galleries and treated at the Big Butte Treatment Plant for basic filtration and disinfection. Rogue River water is treated at the Rogue River Water Treatment Plant with coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and chloramination. No major reservoirs are used; the system relies on natural high-quality sources requiring minimal treatment.

Big Butte Springs tap into aquifers within fractured volcanic rocks of the Western Cascades geological province, including Oligocene-Miocene Little Butte Volcanics and Siskiyou Formation sandstones. The Rogue River Watershed spans over 5,000 square miles through the Klamath Mountains and Cascades, with granitic batholiths, volcanic formations, and sedimentary layers leaching moderate ions into the watershed. This mixed geology — lacking dominant calcareous formations — favors moderate dissolution of alkaline earth metals without excessive limestone influence, yielding water of balanced chemistry that remains moderately soft.

Moderately soft water causes minimal scale buildup in pipes and appliances, reducing long-term maintenance compared to harder supplies. Kettles, dishwashers, and water heaters see little impact, with no significant energy loss from mineral deposits. Soap lathers adequately without excess use, and skin and hair remain largely unaffected. A whole-house water softener is generally not recommended; targeted descaling every few years suffices. Water pH is approximately 7.0 from Big Butte Springs and 7.3 from Rogue River, supporting corrosion control. Official 2022 analyses note detections of barium, total chromium, and TTHMs above some health guidelines, alongside hexavalent chromium concerns from third-party testing, though the utility meets lead and copper rule requirements.

Geology & Source: Big Butte Springs — Oligocene-Miocene Little Butte Volcanics and Siskiyou Formation sandstones; Rogue River flows through granitic and volcanic Klamath Mountains terrain; mixed geology with limited carbonate influence — yields moderately soft water

Other Oregon Water Reports

Central Point

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Ashland

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Grants Pass

59 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Roseburg

51 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Medford's water safe to drink?

Yes. Medford's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 60–119 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Medford?

Medford's water is moderately hard at ≈ 60–119 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Medford compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Medford (≈ 60–119 mg/L) is 61 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 Medford 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.