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

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

Frederickson Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

32.6 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 Frederickson, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Frederickson	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 Frederickson compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Frederickson, Washington	≈ 0–59 mg/L	1.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Elk Plain, Washington	≈ 0–60 mg/L	2.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Spanaway, Washington	51.5 mg/L	100.1 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Graham, Washington	≈ 0–60 mg/L	2.2 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Parkland, Washington	≈ 0–60 mg/L	2.3 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Frederickson compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Frederickson	≈ 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 Frederickson's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 32.6 mg/LpH: 7.1

Frederickson, Washington, receives its water supply from the Tacoma-Pierce County public water system, serving Pierce County communities. The utility draws from a combination of groundwater wells tapping local aquifers and surface water purchased from the City of Everett. Key sources include production wells in the glacial outwash aquifers of the Puyallup River watershed and treated surface water from the Spada Reservoir system. Pierce County maintains extensive water quality monitoring via over 300 stations accessible through the Pierce County Water Data Viewer.

The watershed encompasses the Puyallup River basin within the Puget Lowland physiographic province, influenced by Cascade Range runoff and glacial geology. Water interacts with Quaternary-age glacial till, outwash sands, and gravel from the Fraser Glaciation, forming productive but low-mineral aquifers. These unconsolidated sediments limit prolonged rock-water contact, yielding a soft supply character with minimal dissolved solids from the surrounding granitic and volcanic bedrock — the geology favors soft water through permeable, non-carbonate flow paths.

Soft water in Frederickson presents minimal scaling risk, sparing appliances such as water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers from mineral buildup. Soap lathers easily and no visible spots appear on glassware or fixtures; routine cleaning suffices. A water softener is not recommended, as it would introduce sodium unnecessarily. However, Frederickson tap water shows 4 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines per recent reports; a certified filter is advised. The utility complies with lead and copper rules, and Pierce County's extensive sampling covers emerging contaminants.

Geology & Source: Puget Sound basin — Quaternary glacial till and Pleistocene outwash sands and gravels from the Vashon Glaciation; limited carbonate contact in non-limestone alluvial aquifers yields naturally soft water

Other Washington Water Reports

Elk Plain

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Spanaway

51.5 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Graham

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Parkland

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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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 Frederickson's water safe to drink?

Yes. Frederickson'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 Frederickson?

Frederickson'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 Frederickson compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Frederickson (≈ 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 Frederickson 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.