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Tap water in Mississauga and Brampton comes from the Region of Peel, not from the cities. Peel's South Peel system draws from Lake Ontario and treats the water at two plants: Arthur P. Kennedy, which mostly serves the east side of Mississauga, and Lorne Park, which mostly serves the west side. The same system pipes this water north to Brampton and southern Caledon. In Peel's 2025 water quality report, treated water measured 120 to 130 mg/L of hardness at Arthur P. Kennedy and 120 mg/L at Lorne Park. Peel calls this moderately hard. On the U.S. Geological Survey scale we use, the Arthur P. Kennedy range sits mostly just over the 120 mg/L line for hard water. Both plants are above Ontario's operational guideline of 80 to 100 mg/L, which Peel prints next to its results.
Data last reviewed October 24, 2026.
Mississauga and Brampton ranks #9 hardest of 31 cities in the Canadian Hard Water Report 2026. See the full ranking
In other units
Source: Region of Peel, 2025 Water quality report, South Peel Drinking Water System (PDF). Data for: 2025, treated water grab samples. Checked October 24, 2026.
In other units
Source: Region of Peel, 2025 Water quality report, South Peel Drinking Water System (PDF). Data for: 2025, treated water grab samples. Checked October 24, 2026.
Expect scale in your coffee maker and kettle, and a white film on glasses. Descale the coffee maker and ice machine regularly, and clean the dishwasher and the washer about every two weeks.
Scale shows up first where water gets heated, so start with the coffee maker.
The dishwasher and the washer need regular cleaning too. One kit covers all three machines.
Only dishwashers with a built-in water softener have a hardness setting. Here is the setting for this water, worked out from each maker's own table.
| Brand | Arthur P. Kennedy plant | Lorne Park plant |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch and ThermadorCanadian models with a softener. H:00 is off. | H:01 | H:01 |
| GaggenauSame ranges as Bosch. The display shows the °E band. | 9-10 | 9-10 |
| MieleSet in °dH. Below 5, Miele says no salt is needed. | 7 | 7 |
| Fisher & PaykelDishDrawer models with a softener. 0 is off. | 1 | 1 |
When hardness varies, Miele says to set the higher value.
Most North American dishwashers, including Bosch models sold in the United States, have no water softener and no hardness setting. With those, use rinse aid and run a dishwasher cleaner once a month.
Sources: Bosch SHX78CC5UC manual, Thermador DWHD661EFP manual, Gaggenau DF481701 manual, Miele dishwasher manual (Canada), Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer guide
Softeners take hardness in US grains per gallon: the figure in mg/L divided by 17.12, rounded up.
| Brand | Arthur P. Kennedy plant | Lorne Park plant |
|---|---|---|
| Nespresso Essenza PlusHardness level, and cups between descalings | Level 1 (3,000 cups) | Level 1 (3,000 cups) |
| Jura E8Hardness setting | 7 °dH | 7 °dH |
Sources: Nespresso Essenza Plus manual, Jura E8 manual, Breville Barista Touch manual, De'Longhi descaling FAQ, Keurig descaling page
Hard water leaves scale on the heating element and the drum, and more detergent residue behind.
Removes limescale, mineral buildup and coffee oils inside your coffee maker.
Descales for better-tasting coffee
Dissolves grease, detergent residue and limescale buildup, and removes odour-causing buildup.
Clears grease, limescale and odour buildup
Breaks down residue and odour-causing buildup inside your washer.
Removes odour and buildup from the drum and hoses
Removes mineral buildup and odours inside your ice machine.
Descales and freshens ice machines
We use the U.S. Geological Survey scale, in mg/L as CaCO₃.
Utilities usually report hardness in mg/L as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), which is the same as ppm. Dishwasher and softener manuals often use grains per gallon or German degrees instead. Here is how they convert:
Right on the line. The Region of Peel's 2025 results show 120 to 130 mg/L at the Arthur P. Kennedy plant and 120 mg/L at Lorne Park. Water counts as hard above 120 mg/L, so Arthur P. Kennedy water is mostly hard on our scale, while Peel calls it moderately hard.
The Region of Peel. Its South Peel system serves Mississauga, Brampton and southern Caledon from the same two Lake Ontario plants, and watermains can move water between the east and west sides. The City of Mississauga does not publish its own water results.
No. Both draw from Lake Ontario, but Toronto treats its own water and publishes its own results: an average of 119 mg/L in 2025.
For dishwashers with a built-in water softener, each maker's table gives: Arthur P. Kennedy plant (mostly east Mississauga): Bosch and Thermador H:01, Gaggenau 9-10, Miele 7, Fisher & Paykel 1. Lorne Park plant (mostly west Mississauga): Bosch and Thermador H:01, Gaggenau 9-10, Miele 7, Fisher & Paykel 1. Most North American dishwashers, including Bosch models sold in the United States, have no water softener and no hardness setting. With those, use rinse aid and run a dishwasher cleaner once a month.
Arthur P. Kennedy plant (mostly east Mississauga): 8 grains per US gallon (rounded up). Lorne Park plant (mostly west Mississauga): 8 grains per US gallon (rounded up).
Arthur P. Kennedy plant (mostly east Mississauga): 7.0 to 7.6 grains per US gallon, or 8.4 to 9.1 grains per imperial gallon. Lorne Park plant (mostly west Mississauga): 7.0 grains per US gallon, or 8.4 grains per imperial gallon.
Region of Peel, 2025 Water quality report, South Peel Drinking Water System (PDF). Data for 2025, treated water grab samples. We update this page when a new report comes out.
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