Is Michigan Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Water quality data for 26 cities across Michigan. Find your city below.
Water quality in Michigan varies significantly from city to city. Across 26 cities we track, hardness ranges from 126 PPM in Dearborn to 350 PPM in Howell, with a statewide average of 179 PPM. 26 of 26 cities have hard water above 120 PPM where a water softener provides measurable benefits.
1 Michigan cities have forever chemicals (PFAS) above the EPA's 2024 limit of 4 parts per trillion: Kalamazoo (24.26 ppt). A reverse osmosis system or NSF P473-certified filter can reduce PFAS to safe levels.
Complete Michigan Guide
Statewide water quality overview, costs, and treatment recommendations.
Well Water in Michigan
Testing, treatment, and common issues for private wells.
Hardest Water Rankings
Michigan cities ranked by water hardness level.
City Treatment Guides
Sized recommendations based on each city's specific water data.
Grand Rapids Downtown
🧂 Best SoftenerGrand Rapids
🧂 Best SoftenerDetroit
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterCity Comparisons
Howell vs Dearborn
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Howell vs Grand Rapids Downtown
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Grand Rapids Downtown vs Ann Arbor South
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
More for Michigan
Softener Cost in DetroitMichigan Cities by Water Hardness
| City | Hardness (PPM) | Level | PFAS (ppt) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howell | 350 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Local wells |
| Grand Rapids Downtown | 300 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Lake Michigan |
| Ann Arbor South | 300 | Extremely Hard | 13.2 | Huron River + wells |
| Auburn Hills | 280 | Extremely Hard | 6.63 | Detroit Water (Lake Huron) |
| Saginaw | 180 | Very Hard | 7.3 | Lake Huron via GLWA pipeline |
| Midland | 180 | Very Hard | 8.9 | Tittabawassee River & wells |
| Bay City | 175 | Hard | 0 | Saginaw River |
| Kalamazoo | 171 | Hard | 24.26 | Groundwater wells |
| Wyoming | 170 | Hard | 0 | Lake Michigan via Grand Rapids |
| Lansing | 168 | Hard | 0 | Groundwater wells |
| Troy | 168 | Hard | 0 | Detroit Water (Lake Huron) |
| Muskegon | 165 | Hard | 0 | Muskegon Lake & wells |
| Ann Arbor | 163 | Hard | 13.2 | Huron River |
| Rochester Hills | 160 | Hard | 0 | Detroit Water via Lake Huron |
| Canton | 156 | Hard | 0 | Lake Huron via GLWA |
| West Bloomfield | 155 | Hard | 0 | Lake Huron via Detroit system |
| Sterling Heights | 154 | Hard | 0 | Detroit Water (Lake Huron) |
| Farmington Hills | 152 | Hard | 0 | Lake Huron via Detroit system |
| Southfield | 148 | Hard | 0 | Lake Huron via Detroit system |
| Novi | 148 | Hard | 0 | Detroit Water & local wells |
| Warren | 145 | Hard | 0 | Detroit Water (Lake Huron) |
| Livonia | 145 | Hard | 0 | Detroit Water & Sewerage (Lake Huron |
| Grand Rapids | 137 | Hard | 0 | Lake Michigan |
| Flint | 132 | Hard | 0 | Lake Huron via Great Lakes Water Authori… |
| Detroit | 130 | Hard | 0 | Lake Huron + Detroit River |
| Dearborn | 126 | Hard | 0 | Detroit Water & Sewerage (Lake Huron |