How does Fresno's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Fresno (≈ 60–119 mg/L) is 61 mg/L softer than average.

Fresno Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

moderately hard

~60–119 mg/L

Moderately Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

62.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.24

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

moderately hard~60–119 mg/LModerately Hard · est.

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Fresno, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Fresno	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.5 yrs	8.5 yrs	-12%
Washing Machine	10.6 yrs	12 yrs	-12%
Water Heater	13.2 yrs	15 yrs	-12%

Regional Water Comparison

How Fresno compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Fresno, California	≈ 60–119 mg/L	1.8 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Clovis, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	365.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Sanger, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	39.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Selma, California	51 mg/L	6.8 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Parlier, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Fresno compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Fresno	≈ 60–119 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Fresno's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 62.2 mg/LpH: 7.2

The City of Fresno Public Utilities Department supplies water to Fresno, California, located in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The utility operates multiple water sources, including groundwater pumped from the San Joaquin Valley aquifer system and surface water from regional reservoirs. Treatment plants process this supply before distribution to the service area, encompassing the city and surrounding communities. The City of Fresno's 2024 Water Quality Annual Report confirms comprehensive monitoring, with compliance maintained for lead and copper action levels and all applicable Safe Drinking Water Act standards through conventional filtration and disinfection.

Fresno's water supply originates from the San Joaquin Valley watershed, one of California's most productive agricultural regions. The valley's hydrogeology is dominated by Quaternary alluvial deposits overlying Tertiary sedimentary sequences, with groundwater flowing through layers of clay, silt, sand, and gravel deposited during the Cenozoic Era. These moderately mineralized sedimentary formations contribute dissolved calcium and magnesium to the supply, creating a moderately hard water profile — softer than the extremely hard conditions found in the southern valley's deeper Cretaceous aquifers, but harder than soft Sierra Nevada runoff in northern California.

At moderate hardness levels, Fresno residents may notice some scale buildup in kettles and on fixtures, though effects are less severe than in very hard water areas. Appliances such as water heaters and dishwashers will experience gradual mineral accumulation that may reduce efficiency over time, and soap and detergent performance is slightly reduced. A water softener is not essential but may benefit households concerned about appliance longevity or those with sensitive skin or hair. Total hardness is not a federally regulated parameter under the Safe Drinking Water Act, though Fresno monitors it for customer information alongside full regulatory compliance for all primary contaminants.

Geology & Source: San Joaquin Valley aquifer — Quaternary alluvial and Tertiary sedimentary formations; clay, silt, sand, and gravel layers moderately mineralized with calcium and magnesium; moderate hardness, softer than deeper Cretaceous formations to the south

Hardness Varies Across Fresno — Find Your Area

City average is ≈ 60–119 mg/L. Individual ZIP areas differ.

* ZIP code estimates are derived from the city-wide measurement. Actual readings may vary slightly by neighbourhood.

ZIP Code	Neighbourhood	Hardness (mg/L)	Risk Level
93701	Downtown Fresno	≈ 87	🟡 Moderately Hard
93721	Downtown East	≈ 87	🟡 Moderately Hard
93702	Southeast Fresno	≈ 90	🟡 Moderately Hard
93703	East Fresno	≈ 90	🟡 Moderately Hard
93704	Northwest Fresno	≈ 90	🟡 Moderately Hard
93705	Central Fresno	≈ 90	🟡 Moderately Hard
93706	Southwest Fresno	≈ 90	🟡 Moderately Hard
93710	Northeast Fresno	≈ 90	🟡 Moderately Hard
93711	North Fresno	≈ 90	🟡 Moderately Hard
93722	West Fresno	≈ 90	🟡 Moderately Hard
93720	Far Northeast Fresno	≈ 93	🟡 Moderately Hard
93726	Central East Fresno	≈ 93	🟡 Moderately Hard

Other California Water Reports

Clovis

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Sanger

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Selma

51 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Parlier

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fresno's water safe to drink?

Yes. Fresno's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 60–119 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Fresno?

Fresno's water is moderately hard at ≈ 60–119 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Fresno compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Fresno (≈ 60–119 mg/L) is 61 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Fresno is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.