How Hard Is Utah Water?

Utah water is generally hard to very hard. Hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water. On the U.S. Geological Survey scale, water above 120 milligrams per liter is hard and above 180 is very hard, and many Wasatch Front water systems report readings in those ranges. The exact number depends on your provider and whether your water comes from mountain streams or wells.

The hardness scale

• Soft: 0–60 mg/L (0–3.5 grains per gallon)
• Moderately hard: 61–120 mg/L (3.5–7 grains)
• Hard: 121–180 mg/L (7–10.5 grains)
• Very hard: over 180 mg/L (over 10.5 grains)

One grain per gallon equals 17.1 mg/L.

How to find your number

Every public water system publishes an annual water quality report, sometimes called a Consumer Confidence Report, and most list hardness. Search your city or water district’s name plus water quality report. Hardness often changes by season as providers switch between surface water and wells. We can also test a sample at your home.

What hard water does

• Builds sediment in water heaters, which causes rumbling and early failure
• Scales tankless heat exchangers and cuts their flow
• Wears out faucet cartridges, toilet fill valves and appliance valves
• Leaves white spots on fixtures, glass and dishes

What to do about it

A water softener removes hardness for the whole house and is the only real fix for scale. A reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink improves drinking water taste. If you do not want a softener, flush your water heater yearly and descale a tankless unit yearly.