Detroit, Michigan’s Home for
Water Softeners, Water Filters,
& Water Delivery

Yes. Detroit’s drinking water met federal and state standards, and the most recent water quality report lists no violations. The report also notes four significant deficiencies tied to mixing and flocculation equipment at GLWA’s Southwest and Springwells plants. They are being addressed under a compliance agreement with Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE); one is complete and the rest are on track.

Yes, moderately. The most recent water quality report shows an average hardness of 107 ppm, or about 6.3 grains per gallon, with tap samples between 96 and 142 ppm. At that level you may notice spotting on glassware, a film on shower doors, and gradual scale inside water heaters and fixtures.

Some homes do. Of Detroit’s roughly 311,000 service lines, an estimated 75,000 are lead and about 48,000 are of unknown material. DWSD has replaced 15,722 lead service lines since 2018, including 4,004 in 2025. In the most recent lead sampling of 50 homes with lead service lines, the 90th percentile result was 8 ppb, below Michigan’s action level of 12 ppb; one home tested above the action level, and individual results ranged from 0 to 21 ppb. DWSD adds phosphate to the water for corrosion control.

The most recent water quality report lists PFOA, one of the most widely studied PFAS compounds, at up to 2 parts per trillion, below both Michigan’s 8 ppt limit and the 4 ppt federal limit. Results for other PFAS compounds aren’t summarized alongside it, so homeowners who want to know more about their own tap can schedule a free in-home water test with Culligan.

Yes. Fluoride is added during treatment. The most recent water quality report shows 0.56 ppm at the plant tap and an average of 0.60 ppm in tap-water samples, well below the 4 ppm maximum contaminant level.

Detroit buys treated surface water from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). The city is served by GLWA’s three Detroit River plants, Waterworks Park on the east riverfront, Southwest, and Springwells, which draw from two Detroit River intakes. DWSD then delivers that water to more than 645,000 residents through more than 2,700 miles of water main.

GLWA disinfects Detroit’s water with chlorine, adds fluoride, and treats it with phosphate to help limit corrosion in pipes. The Waterworks Park plant also uses ozone. Chlorine stays in the water on its way to your tap; the most recent report shows a highest running average of 0.95 ppm total chlorine, well under the 4 ppm limit, though it can still leave a taste or odor some households notice.

It depends on your home. Much of Detroit’s housing was built before 1970, and many homes date to the early 20th century, from historic districts like Indian Village and Boston-Edison to bungalows and colonials across the east and west sides. Older homes can still have legacy plumbing such as galvanized steel or, in some cases, a lead service line. With water averaging about 107 ppm (6.3 gpg), a water softener can help slow scale in older pipes and appliances. Disinfection byproducts are another filtration angle: the most recent report shows total trihalomethanes at a highest running average of 51.8 ppb (limit 80 ppb) and HAA5 at 20.3 ppb (limit 60 ppb). Reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink or whole-house filtration can reduce chlorine taste and these byproducts. A free in-home water test is the easiest place to start.

DWSD and GLWA test for bacteria, disinfection byproducts, minerals, nitrate, fluoride, PFOA, lead, copper, and more. In the most recent lead and copper round, the 90th percentile copper result was 0.1 ppm with no homes above the 1.3 ppm action level, and nitrate measured 0.35 ppm against a 10 ppm limit.

You can access the most recent Detroit Tap Water Quality Report from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department here.