How does Lea Hill's water compare to the national average?

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

Lea Hill Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.8

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

43.8 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 Lea Hill, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Lea Hill	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 Lea Hill compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Lea Hill, Washington	≈ 0–59 mg/L	1.7 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Auburn, Washington	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Covington, Washington	≈ 0–60 mg/L	2.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Kent, Washington	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Lake Morton-Berrydale, Washington	≈ 0–60 mg/L	2.3 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Lea Hill compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Lea Hill	≈ 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 Lea Hill's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 43.8 mg/LpH: 7.8

The water supply for Lea Hill residents comes from a reservoir managed by Tacoma Public Utilities. This reservoir is located within the Cascade Range watershed in King County, a region south of Seattle, Washington. The water undergoes treatment at a facility before being distributed to homes and businesses.

The geology feeding this water source is primarily composed of insoluble volcanic rocks from the Oligocene Stevens Ridge Formation and Quaternary Cascade basalt. These rock types do not readily dissolve minerals into the water, which explains why the resulting supply is very soft. The Cascade Range watershed itself is characterized by these ancient, insoluble geological formations.

Because the water is very soft, you'll likely notice that soap and detergent lather up easily. This can be a good thing for your cleaning needs, but it means minerals like calcium and magnesium aren't present to help protect your pipes from corrosion. Over time, very soft water can potentially leach metals from plumbing. You might also find that your water heater and dishwasher run more efficiently without scale buildup. A water softener isn't typically necessary for very soft water.

Geology & Source: Cascade watershed; insoluble volcanic rocks produce very soft water

Other Washington Water Reports

Auburn

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Covington

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Kent

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Lake Morton-Berrydale

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Report an Issue

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 Lea Hill's water safe to drink?

Yes. Lea Hill'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 Lea Hill?

Lea Hill'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 Lea Hill compare to the USA average?

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