Burien Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.1 grains per gallon
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
$0.14
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 Burien, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Burien | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -8% |
| Washing Machine | 11.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -3% |
| Water Heater | 13.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -10% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Burien compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Burien, Washington | 53.5 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| White Center, Washington | 23 mg/L | 1.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| SeaTac, Washington | 70.5 mg/L | 3.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Des Moines, Washington | 15 mg/L | 1.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Tukwila, Washington | 46 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Burien compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Burien | 53.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Burien's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Burien, Washington, in King County on Puget Sound south of Seattle–SeaTac International Airport — a diverse south King County community with large Latino, East African (Somali, Ethiopian), and Vietnamese-American populations, known for Seahurst Park on Puget Sound and the vibrant Town Square, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Washington — draws its municipal water supply from the Cedar River and Tolt River watersheds via Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), distributed by the Highline Water District. Water hardness in Burien measures 53.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Burien's moderate softness — slightly harder than downtown Seattle (15 mg/L) — reflects the SPU Cascade supply characteristics in the south King County distribution. The Highline Water District serves the south King County corridor (Burien, SeaTac, Des Moines) on the same SPU Cedar River and Tolt River blended supply. The SPU supply distributed to the Highline District picks up moderate mineral content through the south King County transmission and distribution infrastructure, producing the moderate 53.5 mg/L — still among the softest supplies in Puget Sound region.
With hardness at 53.5 mg/L, Burien residents enjoy moderately soft water with minimal scale challenges. Highline Water District consistently delivers water meeting all Washington DOE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Surface water from the Cedar River Watershed (Seattle Public Utilities) and Tolt River Watershed via the Highline Water District — the King County west Puget Sound south Seattle suburban supply zone; moderately soft supply at 53.5 mg/L — reflecting the Cascade Range volcanic watershed's calcium-poor terrain distributed to the south King County Burien zone.