Fairwood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
155.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.17
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 Fairwood, your appliances are currently losing 9% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fairwood | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -12% |
| Washing Machine | 11.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -7% |
| Water Heater | 13 yrs | 15 yrs | -13% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fairwood compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fairwood, Washington | 64.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| East Hill-Meridian, Washington | 50.5 mg/L | 2.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Renton, Washington | 27.5 mg/L | 1.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Washington | 29.5 mg/L | 1.8 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Covington, Washington | 55 mg/L | 2.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Fairwood compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fairwood | 64.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Fairwood home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Fairwood's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fairwood, Washington, in King County — an unincorporated King County community adjacent to Renton and Kent, in the southeast King County suburban corridor east of Tukwila — receives its municipal water from the Soos Creek Water and Sewer District or the Covington Water District, drawing from the Cedar River or Green River watershed through the south King County supply system.
The soft 64.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 155.1 mg/L are consistent with the south King County supply, slightly harder than the Seattle Cedar River supply (18-35 mg/L) due to the blending of Cedar River and Green River water through the south King County distribution infrastructure. Both the Cedar and Green Rivers drain the Cascades (insoluble volcanic and silicic sedimentary rock), producing the soft water characteristic of the greater Seattle-King County area.
At 64.5 mg/L, Fairwood's water is soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain good efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 2.9 ppt is very good — reflecting the protected Cascade Range watershed and limited direct PFAS sources in the upper Cedar-Green watershed above the King County intakes.
Geology & Source: Fairwood in King County draws from Soos Creek Water and Sewer District or Covington Water District on the Cedar River or Green River watershed (King County, Cascade Range) — the Cedar and Green Rivers drain the Cascade Range (Eocene sandstone and coal, Tertiary Cascade volcanic) — Washington Cascades volcanic and sedimentary watershed produces soft water at 64.5 mg/L with TDS 155 mg/L in this King County Washington community.