Highland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
17.1 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
824.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.78
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 Highland, your appliances are currently losing 39% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Highland | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Highland compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Highland, Utah | 292 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| American Fork, Utah | 179.5 mg/L | 2.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Lehi, Utah | 196.5 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Pleasant Grove, Utah | 197.5 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Draper, Utah | 347.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Highland compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Highland | 292 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Highland home
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What Makes Highland's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Highland, Utah, in Utah County — a Utah County city adjacent to American Fork and Cedar Hills in the north Utah County Wasatch Front corridor — receives its municipal water from the Highland City Water Division and Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD), drawing from Deer Creek Reservoir (Provo River, Wasatch County) and supplemented by local groundwater wells.
The extremely hard 292 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 824.8 mg/L reflect the Utah County Wasatch Front's classic hard water character — similar to Orem UT and Provo UT readings (typically 250-300 mg/L). The Provo River supply drains the Wasatch Range — the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone and Triassic Chinle Formation (calcareous), the Paleozoic carbonate sequence (Pennsylvanian Oquirrh Formation limestone, Mississippian Deseret Limestone), and the Great Salt Lake basin's calcareous Quaternary lake deposits. The cumulative carbonate loading produces the exceptionally hard water characteristic of all Utah County Wasatch Front communities.
At 292 mg/L with TDS 824, Highland's water is extremely hard. A water softener is essential. Scale builds immediately on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are severely shortened, and water heaters require annual maintenance without softening. The PFAS level of 4.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Utah County industrial corridor, Hill Air Force Base (Davis County — AFFF in the Weber-Jordan watershed), and the Wasatch Front PFAS background contribute to Highland's readings.
Geology & Source: Highland in Utah County draws from Central Utah Water Conservancy District on Deer Creek Reservoir (Provo River, Utah County) and local wells — the Provo drains the Wasatch Range (Pennsylvanian Oquirrh Limestone, Mississippian Deseret Limestone) — Utah County Wasatch Front Paleozoic carbonate watershed produces extremely hard water at 292 mg/L with very high TDS 824.8 mg/L in this Utah County Utah city.