Imperial Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.5 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
130.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.16
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
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 Imperial, your appliances are currently losing 8% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Imperial | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -11% |
| Washing Machine | 11.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -5% |
| Water Heater | 13.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -12% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Imperial compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Imperial, California | 60 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| El Centro, California | 190 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Brawley, California | 53.5 mg/L | 3.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Calexico, California | 189.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| San Luis, Arizona | 226 mg/L | 3.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Imperial compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Imperial | 60 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Imperial's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Imperial, California, in Imperial County — a city in the Imperial Valley adjacent to El Centro and Brawley in the far southeast California desert — receives its municipal water from the City of Imperial Water Division, drawing from the Colorado River via the All-American Canal (Imperial County) through the Imperial water treatment plant.
The soft 60 mg/L hardness and TDS of 130.9 mg/L are surprisingly soft for a Colorado River supply (the untreated Colorado River at Yuma/Imperial is typically 300+ mg/L, hard). The Imperial water treatment plant uses lime softening (or lime-soda ash softening), which removes most calcium and magnesium carbonate hardness before distribution — the Colorado Plateau carbonate and Sonoran Desert evaporite loading is removed at the plant, producing the characteristically soft treated supply.
At 60 mg/L, Imperial's water is soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain good efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 3.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Imperial Valley agricultural sector (one of the largest agricultural PFAS input areas in the US via irrigation), the Imperial County California border corridor, and the Colorado River PFAS background contribute to Imperial's readings.
Geology & Source: Imperial in Imperial County draws from the City of Imperial Water on the Colorado River via the All-American Canal (Imperial County, California) — the Colorado River at Imperial is treated at the Imperial WTP using lime softening (Colorado Plateau carbonate-evaporite) — California Imperial County Colorado River treated supply produces soft water at 60 mg/L with TDS 130.9 mg/L in this Imperial County California city.