Covington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
123.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.15
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 Covington, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Covington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -8% |
| Washing Machine | 11.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -3% |
| Water Heater | 13.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -11% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Covington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Covington, Washington | 55 mg/L | 2.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Lea Hill, Washington | 25.5 mg/L | 1.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| East Hill-Meridian, Washington | 50.5 mg/L | 2.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Maple Valley, Washington | 78 mg/L | 3.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Fairwood, Washington | 64.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Covington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Covington | 55 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Covington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Covington, Washington, in King County — a King County unincorporated community adjacent to Kent and Maple Valley, in the southeast King County suburban corridor south of Seattle — receives its municipal water from the Covington Water District, drawing from the Green River watershed through the Covington Water District supply infrastructure in the south King County area.
The very soft 55 mg/L hardness and TDS of 123.1 mg/L reflect the Green River watershed's Cascade Range character. The Green River drains the Cascade Range in southeastern King County — terrain underlain by Eocene Roslyn Formation sandstone and coal-bearing strata, Tertiary Cascades volcanic, and the Snoqualmie Batholith (Eocene granodiorite — insoluble). Seattle's Cedar River supply (South Seattle: 18-35 mg/L, TDS 25-50) is even softer than Covington's Green River supply, indicating the Green River at the Covington intake has slightly more mineral contact than the Cedar River's protected watershed.
At 55 mg/L, Covington'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 2.6 ppt is very good — reflecting the protected Cascade Range watershed character and the relatively limited direct PFAS industrial sources in the upper Green River watershed above the Covington intake.
Geology & Source: Covington in King County draws from the Covington Water District on the Green River watershed (King County, Cascade Range) — the Green River drains the Cascade Range (Eocene Roslyn Formation sandstone, Tertiary Cascades volcanic) — Washington Cascades volcanic and sandstone watershed drainage produces very soft water at 55 mg/L with TDS 123 mg/L in this King County Washington community.