Know your water
Arizona water hardness by city
Every water provider publishes its own hardness figures. Trident Plumbing & Drain collected them for the communities we serve. Each figure links to its source.
Open 24/7Licensed ROC 331536
- Communities we serve
- 36
- With a published figure
- 30
- With readings at or above 10.5 gpg, “very hard”
- 29
- Published range, gpg
- 2–38.6
The scale
What the numbers mean
Hardness is the calcium and magnesium in your water. Reports list it in grains per gallon (gpg) or milligrams per liter (mg/L). One grain equals 17.1 mg/L. Hard water is not a health risk, and the EPA has no standard for it.
- Soft Under 1 gpg Under 17 mg/L
- Slightly hard 1–3.5 gpg 17–60 mg/L
- Moderately hard 3.5–7 gpg 60–120 mg/L
- Hard 7–10.5 gpg 120–180 mg/L
- Very hard 10.5+ gpg 180+ mg/L
By community
Find your city
Find the provider named on your water bill. When a provider reports zones or plants, each gets its own row. Some providers no longer print hardness in their yearly reports. Those rows say which report the figure came from, or that none is published.
Ratings and the shaded bars use the Water Quality Association scale above. Values marked ≈ are converted from the other unit, and unmarked values are as the provider published them. Each community name links to our page for that city.
Figures checked October 8, 2026.
Northwest Valley water hardness
| Community | Provider | Hardness, gpg | mg/L | Rating | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Mirage | City of El MirageCity wellsAverage 7 gpg. The City suggests a 7.5-grain softener setting. | 4–9 | ≈ 68–154 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Glendale | City of GlendaleAverage 13.8 gpg. | 5.4–18.5 | 93–317 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Morristown | Morristown Water CompanyNo report online, and no figure in its 2024 utility filing. | Not published | — | — | Morristown Water Company 2024 annual report |
| Peoria | City of PeoriaGreenway plant (south of Bell Road) | 13 average | ≈ 222 | Water FAQ | |
| Peoria | City of PeoriaPyramid Peak plant (north of Bell Road) | 17 average | ≈ 291 | Water FAQ | |
| Peoria | City of PeoriaCity wellsWells supply more of the water in summer. | 2–8 | ≈ 34–137 | Water FAQ | |
| Sun City | EPCORSun City district | 7–11 | ≈ 120–188 | 2025 Sun City Water Quality Report | |
| Sun City West | EPCORSun City West district | 3–11 | ≈ 51–188 | 2025 Sun City West Water Quality Report | |
| Surprise | City of SurpriseMountain Vista system | 2.69–4.85 | ≈ 46–83 | 2025 Mountain Vista Water Quality Report | |
| Surprise | City of SurpriseDesert Oasis system | 2.6–11.11 | ≈ 44–190 | 2025 Desert Oasis Water Quality Report | |
| Surprise | EPCORAgua Fria district | 2–17 | ≈ 34–291 | 2025 Agua Fria Water Quality Report | |
| Waddell | EPCORAgua Fria district, EPCOR addresses onlySeveral providers serve Waddell. Check your bill. | 2–17 | ≈ 34–291 | 2025 Agua Fria Water Quality Report | |
| Waddell | Adaman Mutual Water CompanyNo figure in its latest report (2024). | Not published | — | — | Consumer Confidence Report |
| Waddell | Valley Utilities Water CompanyNo figure in its 2025 report. | Not published | — | — | 2025 Water Quality Report |
| Wickenburg | Town of WickenburgNo figure in the 2025 report. | Not published | — | — | 2025 Water Quality Report |
| Wittmann | West End Water CompanyNo figure in its 2024 or 2025 report. | Not published | — | — | 2025 Water Quality Report |
| Youngtown | EPCORSun City district | 7–11 | ≈ 120–188 | 2025 Sun City Water Quality Report |
Southwest Valley water hardness
| Community | Provider | Hardness, gpg | mg/L | Rating | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avondale | City of AvondaleCity waterAverage 378 mg/L (22.1 gpg). Later reports leave hardness out. | ≈ 4–38.6 | 69–660 | 2023 Water Quality Report | |
| Avondale | City of AvondaleWater delivered from the City of Phoenix2023 report. | 8.6–16.8 | 148–288 | 2023 Water Quality Report | |
| Buckeye | City of BuckeyeNo figure on the City's water page or in its 2025 report. EPCOR and Arizona Water Company serve parts of the city. | Not published | — | — | Water Facts & Quality |
| Goodyear | Liberty WaterLitchfield Park and Goodyear systemLiberty lists its sources at 8.8 to 21.1 gpg. | 13.6 average | ≈ 233 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Goodyear | City of GoodyearThe report suggests a 14 to 20-grain softener setting instead. | Not published | — | — | 2025 Water Quality Report |
| Litchfield Park | Liberty WaterLiberty lists its sources at 8.8 to 21.1 gpg. | 13.6 average | ≈ 233 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Tolleson | City of TollesonMost of the water is bought from Phoenix. Later reports leave hardness out. | ≈ 5.6–13.5 | 95–230 | 2023 Water Quality Report |
Phoenix & North Valley water hardness
| Community | Provider | Hardness, gpg | mg/L | Rating | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahwatukee | City of Phoenix | 10–17.6 | 172–302 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Anthem | EPCORAnthem district | About 18 | ≈ 308 | 2025 Anthem Water Quality Report | |
| Black Canyon City | Black Canyon City Water Improvement DistrictThe district says hardness varies. | ≈ 16.4, one reading | 280 | May 2024 letter with the 2023 report | |
| Carefree | Carefree Water Company | About 14–16 | ≈ 239–274 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Cave Creek | Town of Cave CreekA 2018 sample, last printed in 2023. The 2025 report lists calcium only. | 12–15 | ≈ 205–257 | 2023 Water Quality Report | |
| Laveen | City of Phoenix | 10–17.6 | 172–302 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| New River | Private wells (most homes)Most homes use private wells. Where EPCOR's Anthem district serves, it reports about 18 gpg. | Not published | — | — | New River and Desert Hills wells (2018) |
| Phoenix | City of PhoenixOne range for the whole system. | 10–17.6 | 172–302 | 2025 Water Quality Report |
Scottsdale & Northeast water hardness
| Community | Provider | Hardness, gpg | mg/L | Rating | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fountain Hills | EPCORChaparral City districtA 2024 sample. | About 16 | ≈ 274 | 2025 Water Quality Report (Chaparral City) | |
| Paradise Valley | EPCORParadise Valley districtA 2022 sample. Phoenix, Scottsdale or Berneil Water Company serve some homes. | About 12 | ≈ 205 | 2025 Water Quality Report (Paradise Valley district) | |
| Rio Verde | EPCORRio Verde district | 11–14 | ≈ 188–239 | 2025 Rio Verde Water Quality Report | |
| Scottsdale | City of ScottsdaleSouth of Indian School RoadThe City's web page lists 22 to 25 gpg here. This table uses the 2026 report. | About 13–15 | 230–260 | 2026 Water Quality Report | |
| Scottsdale | City of ScottsdaleIndian School Road and north | About 13–17 | ≈ 222–291 | 2026 Water Quality Report |
East Valley water hardness
| Community | Provider | Hardness, gpg | mg/L | Rating | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler | City of Chandler | 10.1–16.8 | ≈ 173–287 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Eastmark | City of MesaEastern and Southern Zones | 16 average | ≈ 274 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Gilbert | Town of GilbertAverage 10.79 gpg. | 6.61–17.54 | ≈ 113–300 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Las Sendas | City of MesaCity Zone | 12 average | ≈ 205 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Las Sendas | City of MesaEastern and Southern ZonesThe report's map shows your zone. | 16 average | ≈ 274 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Mesa | City of MesaCity Zone | 12 average | ≈ 205 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Mesa | City of MesaEastern and Southern Zones | 16 average | ≈ 274 | 2025 Water Quality Report | |
| Queen Creek | Town of Queen Creek | 6–17 | ≈ 103–291 | Water FAQ | |
| Sun Lakes | Pima Utility CompanyNo figure in its 2020 to 2025 reports. | Not published | — | — | 2025 Water Quality Report |
| Tempe | City of TempeAverage 12.3 gpg. | 10.4–32.6 | ≈ 178–557 | 2025 Water Quality Report |
No community or provider matches that search. See all service areas.
Reading your number
Why your tap may differ
Arizona water hardness changes with the provider, the zone and the season.
- Your provider and zone
Some cities report by plant or zone. In Peoria, water south of Bell Road averages 13 gpg. North of it, the average is 17. Mesa's Eastern and Southern Zones average 16, against about 12 in the City Zone.
- Wells and the season
Well water and river water carry different minerals. Peoria's wells run 2 to 8 gpg and supply more water in summer. Gilbert's 2025 readings ran from 6.61 to 17.54.
- Ranges and averages
A range covers every sample in a report, so your tap can sit anywhere in it. An average is one number for the whole system.
At home
What hard water does to your plumbing
- Water heaters
- Heat pulls minerals out of the water. Sediment settles in a tank, and scale coats a tankless heat exchanger. That is why flushing and descaling matter here. A flush drains scalding water through the tank's drain valve, so turn the heater off and let it cool first. Call a plumber if the tank rumbles or pops, leaks at the base, or the T&P valve (the temperature and pressure relief valve) drips. Water heater maintenance
- Fixtures
- Scale builds on aerators, showerheads and valve cartridges. It often shows up before anything leaks. Fixture repair
- Softeners
- A softener is set to the hardness at your tap. It swaps the minerals for sodium or, in some systems, potassium. The City of Mesa estimates about 8 mg/L of added sodium for each grain removed (City of Mesa, Common Water Quality Concerns (opens in a new tab)). Water softeners
Good to know
Hard water questions
Want help reading your water report or sizing a softener? Talk with our team.
Call (623) 879-2020How hard is Phoenix tap water?
The City of Phoenix's 2025 report lists 10 to 17.6 grains per gallon (172 to 302 mg/L). On the Water Quality Association scale, that is hard to very hard.
What is a grain per gallon?
It is the unit most water reports use for hardness. One grain per gallon equals 17.1 mg/L. The Water Quality Association calls 10.5 grains or more very hard.
Is hard water safe to drink?
Hardness itself is not a health risk, and the EPA has no drinking water standard for it. It matters for mineral buildup on fixtures, water heaters and appliances.
What setting should my water softener use?
Match it to the hardness at your tap. Some providers suggest a starting point. El Mirage suggests 7.5 grains, and Gilbert suggests 10 to 12 to cover seasonal swings. Mesa suggests 16 in its Eastern and Southern Zones.
How do I know which water provider I have?
Check the name on your water bill. Some communities have more than one provider, so neighbors can have different water.