Provo and Orem are about 50 miles south of the AMPAC factory in Woods Cross, and Lehi is on the way. Utah County’s two largest cities publish hardness, and the two reports do not agree on how hard is typical: Provo reports a tight range, while Orem’s depends heavily on which source feeds the tap. Here are the figures and the equipment they point to.
What is in Provo and Orem tap water?
| Provider | Hardness (grains/gal) | Hardness (mg/L) | TDS (mg/L) | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo City | 10 - 15 | 171 - 257 | up to 376 | 2024 |
| Orem City | 6.6 - 25 depending on source | 112 - 428 | 112 - 388 | 2026 |
| Lehi City | not published | not published | 120 - 388 | 2025 |
All three sit below the EPA’s 500 mg/L TDS guideline, so mineral taste is less of a complaint here than in parts of Davis County or St. George. Hardness is the story. Provo’s 10 to 15 grains is very hard on the USGS scale. Orem spans moderately hard (6.6 grains) to 25 grains, and the report ties the spread to the water source. If you live in Orem, the number on your neighbour’s tap may not be the number on yours. Provo’s table is from its 2024 report, the newest one in our sources, so check whether the city has published a later one.
These are system-wide figures from each utility’s own annual water quality report. A specific street can differ from the average, so test your tap before you size anything. Hardness is unregulated, so a utility that does not publish a number is not breaking a rule. 1 grain per gallon is 17.1 mg/L.
What this means for your equipment
- Hard water: softening is the main fix for scale. See RO vs water softener.
- Drinking water and coffee: a residential RO system at the tap brings TDS down. It also keeps scale out of kettles and espresso machines.
- Labs, clinics and light manufacturing: commercial RO systems, with softening ahead of the membrane where the source runs hard.
- Wells and cabins in the foothills: test the water, then choose from UV treatment, sediment filters and water filters.
Installation and service for Provo and Orem
AMPAC builds its reverse osmosis systems at 2262 S 1200 W, Suite #103, Woods Cross, UT 84087, about 50 miles to the south. AMPAC installs and services systems on site anywhere in Utah. The people who assemble a system are the ones you talk to about it. For parts and equipment you would rather collect, pick them up at the Woods Cross facility. Everything else ships.
- Call (385) 530-1026 to arrange an installation, a service visit or a pickup time
- Request a quote and include your address, daily water use and, if you have one, a recent water test
- Size a system first with the RO system calculators
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Provo water?
Provo City’s 2024 water report gives 10 to 15 grains per gallon (171 to 257 mg/L), which the USGS rates as very hard. TDS goes up to 376 mg/L.
Why is Orem’s hardness range so wide?
Orem’s 2026 report lists 6.6 to 25 grains per gallon depending on source, which is 112 to 428 mg/L. Different wells and supplies feed different parts of the city, so test your own tap.
Is Provo or Orem water harder?
The top end is higher in Orem (25 grains against Provo’s 15), but Orem also has softer sources at 6.6. Provo’s water is consistently hard. Compare readings from your own address, not city averages.
Can AMPAC install in Utah County?
Yes. AMPAC installs and services systems on site anywhere in Utah. Provo and Orem are about 50 miles south of the Woods Cross facility.
More on Utah water
- Water treatment in Utah: the statewide guide, with wells, drought and parts
- Utah water hardness and TDS by city: every provider with a source link
- How to test your home water quality