The physicochemical examination of tap water used for domestic purposes in Mekelle town wasrncarried out to ascertain their suitability for consumption. Water softening experiments were alsornconducted to observe the changes in total hardness, with varying dosages of a natural coagulant.rnThe natural coagulant was extracted from Moringa stenopetala seedrnA total of twenty (20) water samples were collected from various parts of the town tap waterrnused for domestic purposes and characterized for their physicochemical parameters, arisingrnpublic interest. The physicochemical implications render Mekelleâ€™s tap water unfit for humanrnconsumption, though it can be used for other purposes.rnTap water samples containing high concentration of hardness from Mekelle town, Enda Mariamrnand Enda Giyorgis areas were used for hardness removal mechanism part of this study. Thernoptimum hardness removal efficiency for Mekelle tap water sample produced from ground waterrnsource was approximately 58 % (from initial total hardness of 523.25 to final hardness result ofrn220.3 which is within Ethiopian and WHO standard, i.e. below 300 mg/l as CaCO3) which wasrnattained at M.Stenopetala dosage of 200 mg/l. The optimum hardness removal efficiency forrnsynthetic hard water analysis done by taking two factors, coagulant dose concentration and PH asrnindependent factors was approximately 49 % (from 500 to 256.6 mg/l as CaCO3) which wasrnattained at M.Stenopetala dosage of 200 mg/l and 6.5 PH value. The mechanism for hardnessrnremoval in hard water seems to be precipitation of insoluble products of the reaction betweenrnM.Stenopetala extract and the hardness causing ions. Even at a relatively higher dosage of thernM.Stenopetala coagulant compared to the chemical softening, natural coagulant is preferred forrneconomic use, health and environmental safety.rnKey words: Water Hardness, coagulant protein, Moringa Stenopetala, physicochemicalrnparameters, Tap water