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Highland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated Β· not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

8.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

βœ“ Below action level

TDS

824.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below Β· Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard Β· 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 Highland, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

ApplianceIn HighlandSoft Water CityEfficiency Loss
Kettle
4.7 yrs
8.5 yrs-45%
Washing Machine
6.6 yrs
12 yrs-45%
Water Heater
8.3 yrs
15 yrs-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Highland compares to its nearest neighbours

CityHardnessPFAS (ppt)RiskSource
β–Ά Highland, Utahβ‰ˆ 180+ mg/L0 pptπŸ”΄ Very Hardgroundwater
Alpine, Utahβ‰ˆ 120–179 mg/L4 ppt🟠 Hardgroundwater
Cedar Hills, Utahβ‰ˆ 180+ mg/L3.1 pptπŸ”΄ Very Hardmixed
American Fork, Utah212 mg/L2.2 pptπŸ”΄ Very Hardmixed
Lehi, Utahβ‰ˆ 180+ mg/L0 pptπŸ”΄ Very Hardreservoir

National Benchmark

How Highland compares to the USA average

BenchmarkHardnessAppliance Risk
β–Ά Highlandβ‰ˆ 180+ mg/LπŸ”΄ High
USA National Avg151 mg/L🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated0.02 mg/L🟒 None

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What Makes Highland's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 824.8 mg/LpH: 8.5

Highland City Water Department serves approximately 20,000 residents in Highland City, Utah County, Utah, within the Provo-Orem metropolitan area. The utility draws from a mix of local groundwater wells along the Bull River and imported surface water from the Provo River watershed, treated at regional facilities like the Provo Water Treatment Plant. No dedicated Highland treatment plant is specified, but water is chlorinated and fluoridated per state standards before distribution through the municipal system to households across the city.

The supply originates in the Utah Valley watershed, encompassing the Wasatch Front mountains and Provo River drainage. Underlying geology features thick sedimentary layers of limestone, dolomite, and evaporites from the Jurassic Arapien Formation and Cretaceous-age units, which form confined aquifers. These carbonate and sulfate-rich rocks naturally mineralize the water, resulting in a very hard supply with elevated calcium and magnesium from prolonged contact with limestone bedrock and gypsum seams. Alluvial aquifers in the Utah Valley basin further contribute dissolved minerals from limestone weathering.

Very hard water in Highland leads to significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. White deposits on fixtures and reduced soap lathering are common. Regular vinegar descaling, installing sediment filters, and annual appliance flushes help mitigate issues. A water softener is strongly recommended for all households. Water quality meets EPA standards with pH typically 7.5–8.5; the utility complies with lead and copper rules under the LCR. Treatment includes chlorination, fluoridation, and basic filtration; annual Consumer Confidence Reports confirm no violations for regulated parameters.

Geology & Source: Utah Valley basin; Jurassic Arapien Formation limestone, dolomite, and gypsum evaporites with Cretaceous units β€” alluvial aquifers along the Wasatch Front dissolve calcium and magnesium yielding very hard supply

Other Utah Water Reports

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highland's water safe to drink?
Yes. Highland's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is β‰ˆ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.
Do I need a water softener in Highland?
At β‰ˆ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Highland'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 45%.
How does Highland compare to the USA average?
The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Highland (β‰ˆ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Highland 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 β€” the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

pH

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

Estimated

TDS β€” 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 β€” Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) β€” 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 β€” 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.