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Lakewood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

46.3 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 Lakewood, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

ApplianceIn LakewoodSoft Water CityEfficiency 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 Lakewood compares to its nearest neighbours

CityHardnessPFAS (ppt)RiskSource
Lakewood, Washington≈ 0–59 mg/L53.9 ppt🟢 Softgroundwater
University Place, Washington≈ 0–60 mg/L2.6 ppt🟢 Softgroundwater
Parkland, Washington≈ 0–60 mg/L2.3 ppt🟢 Softreservoir
Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington38 mg/L156.7 ppt🟢 Softgroundwater
Spanaway, Washington51.5 mg/L100.1 ppt🟢 Softgroundwater

National Benchmark

How Lakewood compares to the USA average

BenchmarkHardnessAppliance Risk
Lakewood≈ 0–59 mg/L🟢 None
USA National Avg151 mg/L🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated0.02 mg/L🟢 None

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What Makes Lakewood's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 46.3 mg/LpH: 7.2

The Lakewood Water District serves the city of Lakewood in Pierce County, Washington, providing drinking water to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across approximately 24 square miles. The utility sources all of its water from local groundwater wells tapping into glacial aquifers beneath the Puget Lowland. Key facilities include multiple production wells and a central treatment plant employing disinfection and filtration processes. The district is located at 11900 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, Lakewood, WA 98499, and can be contacted at 253-588-4423 for inquiries.

The watershed for Lakewood's supply is the local groundwater recharge area within the Puget Sound basin, fed by precipitation infiltrating through glacial outwash plains and forested uplands. The dominant geology consists of Pleistocene-age Vashon glacial till, advance outwash sands and gravels, and recessional deposits forming confined and unconfined aquifers. These unconsolidated sediments contribute to a soft water character, as rainwater percolates through silica-rich sands with minimal contact with hardness-inducing carbonate rocks, yielding water low in dissolved calcium and magnesium.

With a soft water profile, Lakewood's supply poses minimal risk of scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers, reducing maintenance needs and extending appliance life. No water softener is required or recommended, as the low mineral content avoids the spotting on glassware or reduced efficiency seen in hard water areas. Routine flushing of fixtures suffices for upkeep. The district's water quality report earns an A grade, meeting all EPA health guidelines. Water undergoes disinfection with hypochlorite, filtration, and pH adjustment to reduce corrosivity, with compliance maintained for the lead and copper rule via corrosion control.

Geology & Source: Puget Sound Lowland, Pierce County — Pleistocene Vashon glacial till and Cordilleran Ice Sheet outwash sands and gravels; limited limestone content yields low mineral dissolution and a soft supply

Other Washington Water Reports

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lakewood's water safe to drink?
Yes. Lakewood'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 Lakewood?
Lakewood'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 Lakewood compare to the USA average?
The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Lakewood (≈ 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 Lakewood 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

pH

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.