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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Burien (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Burien Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

118.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · 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 Burien, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Burien	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Burien compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Burien, Washington	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
White Center, Washington	≈ 0–60 mg/L	1.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
SeaTac, Washington	≈ 0–60 mg/L	3.1 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Des Moines, Washington	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Tukwila, Washington	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Burien compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Burien	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Burien's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 118.2 mg/LpH: 7.5

King County Water District No. 49 serves Burien, Washington, in King County, providing water to approximately 1,081,175 people in the greater area including Burien. The utility sources water primarily from surface supplies connected to regional systems like Seattle Public Utilities' Cedar River and Tolt River watersheds, supplemented by local groundwater wells. Treatment occurs at regional facilities with filtration, disinfection, and distribution through mains in Burien. The district maintains infrastructure with low leakage rates of around 3.5% as of older reports.

The supply originates from the Cedar River and Tolt River watersheds in the central Cascade Mountains, characterized by granitic and metamorphic rock formations with glacial overlays. These watersheds feature low-contact flow paths over non-carbonate rocks, yielding very soft water with minimal mineral pickup. Volcanic basalts and till deposits further limit calcium and magnesium dissolution, shaping a naturally low-mineralized profile typical of protected mountain catchments.

With soft water, scale buildup is negligible, sparing appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines from mineral deposits. Soap lathers easily, reducing detergent usage, and skin feels less dry. No softener is needed; instead, monitor for corrosion risks in older plumbing due to low mineral buffering. Regular pipe inspections are the primary maintenance recommendation. Water quality shows 5 contaminants above EPA health guidelines per TapWaterData, with no MCL violations noted; PFAS and other chemicals may prompt point-of-use filter consideration. Treatment includes chlorination and basic processing.

Geology & Source: Cascade Mountains glacial and snowmelt runoff; Quaternary glacial deposits and Oligocene–Miocene volcanic basalts (Siletzia terrane); minimal limestone limits calcium and magnesium dissolution — naturally soft water

Other Washington Water Reports

White Center

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

SeaTac

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Des Moines

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Tukwila

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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 Burien's water safe to drink?

Yes. Burien's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Burien?

Burien's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Burien compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Burien (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 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 Burien 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.