Bothell West Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
69.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.10
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 Bothell West, your appliances are currently losing 5% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Bothell West | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -1% |
| Washing Machine | 12.2 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -6% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Bothell West compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bothell West, Washington | 36.5 mg/L | 2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Martha Lake, Washington | 13.5 mg/L | 1.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Kenmore, Washington | 73.5 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Bothell, Washington | 35 mg/L | 2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Mill Creek East, Washington | 36.5 mg/L | 2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Bothell West compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bothell West | 36.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Bothell West's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Bothell West, Washington, in Snohomish County — the Snohomish County portion of Bothell adjacent to the King County Bothell city boundary in the north Seattle-Eastside metro — receives its municipal water from Seattle Public Utilities or the Alderwood Water and Wastewater District, drawing from the Tolt River reservoir (King County) or the Cedar River watershed (Seattle) through the regional distribution system.
The very soft 36.5 mg/L hardness and very low TDS of 69.7 mg/L reflect the Seattle regional water supply's insoluble Cascade volcanic character. The Tolt River drains the Western Cascade Range — Miocene Columbia River Basalt peripheral flows (less soluble than Columbia Plateau basalts), Eocene Ohanapecosh Formation andesitic tuff (highly insoluble), and Oligocene Fifes Peak Formation (insoluble). The insoluble Cascade volcanic and andesitic watershed contributes minimal mineral hardness, producing the very soft north Seattle metro supply.
At 36.5 mg/L, Bothell West's water is very soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain excellent efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 2.0 ppt is very low — the Snohomish County north Seattle suburban setting, while near the Boeing Everett manufacturing complex, is positioned well away from the direct Boeing PFAS discharge zones, producing very clean readings.
Geology & Source: Bothell West in Snohomish County draws from Seattle Public Utilities on the Tolt River reservoir (Snohomish County, northwest Washington) — the Tolt drains the Western Cascade Range (Miocene Columbia River Basalt margins, Eocene Ohanapecosh andesite — insoluble volcanic) — Washington Snohomish County Western Cascade volcanic supply produces very soft water at 36.5 mg/L with TDS 69.7 mg/L in this Snohomish County Washington community.