Joint Base Lewis McChord Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
73.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.10
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 Joint Base Lewis McChord, your appliances are currently losing 5% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Joint Base Lewis McChord | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -2% |
| Washing Machine | 12.2 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -6% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Joint Base Lewis McChord compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington | 38 mg/L | 2.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Lakewood, Washington | 26.5 mg/L | 1.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| University Place, Washington | 56.5 mg/L | 2.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Spanaway, Washington | 49 mg/L | 2.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Parkland, Washington | 44.5 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Joint Base Lewis McChord compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Joint Base Lewis McChord | 38 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Joint Base Lewis McChord's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, in Pierce County — a Pierce County military installation adjacent to Lakewood and DuPont on the south Puget Sound plain — receives its water from the JBLM Water System, drawing from the Nisqually River watershed and on-base groundwater through the west-central Washington distribution.
The very soft 38 mg/L hardness and low TDS of 73.8 mg/L reflect the Pierce County Nisqually supply's very soft volcanic character — the Eocene Puget Sound Andesite and Pleistocene Vashon Till are both largely insoluble volcanic and glacial formations contributing negligible dissolved mineral content to the Puget lowland aquifer (compare Lakewood WA: 37/70 in Pierce County comparable; DuPont WA: 39/77 in Pierce County comparable; Joint Base Lewis-McChord consistent very soft from the same Pierce County Nisqually River Eocene insoluble supply). The Nisqually watershed — Eocene Puget Sound Andesite (insoluble — primary dilutant), Pleistocene Vashon Till (insoluble — secondary dilutant), and Quaternary Nisqually alluvium (slightly calcareous — minimal TDS).
At 38 mg/L with TDS 74, JBLM's water is very soft — virtually no scale buildup. Soft water can be mildly corrosive — monitor for copper staining in older plumbing. The PFAS level of 2.1 ppt is very low — an excellent result, especially notable for a military installation. Review JBLM's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce County draws from the JBLM Water on the Nisqually River watershed (Pierce County, west-central Washington) — the Nisqually watershed drains Eocene Puget Sound Andesite (insoluble) and Pleistocene Vashon Till (insoluble) — Washington Pierce County Nisqually River Eocene insoluble supply produces very soft water at 38 mg/L with TDS 73.8 mg/L.