Water hardness
Washington, DC water hardness
Washington's tap water measures 70 to 120 ppm, which is moderately hard. The number comes from DC Water's 2025 published data, measured at the tap.
95 ppm
Moderately hard
Washington shower water
Hardness bands per the U.S. Geological Survey. Range: 70 to 120 ppm across service areas.
95
Source: DC Water, 2025.
For comparison, Austin, TX sits in the same range at 93 ppm.
What Washington Water Means for Hair and Skin
Between 61 and 120 ppm, effects are mild and many people never notice them. If your fixtures stay clean and soap behaves, this level is not worth treating.
Check Your Own Zip Code
Check the number for your exact address with the free zip lookup, or read the utility's own report linked above.