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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Redding (78.1 mg/L) is 73 mg/L softer than average.

Redding Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

78.1mg/L

Moderately Hard

4.6 grains per gallon

Source

river

pH Level

8.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.009 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

587.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.21

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

78.1mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

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 Redding, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Redding	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-18%
Washing Machine	10.7 yrs	12 yrs	-11%
Water Heater	12.5 yrs	15 yrs	-17%

Regional Water Comparison

How Redding compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Redding, California	78.1 mg/L	122.5 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
Shasta Lake, California	82 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Anderson, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Red Bluff, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	25.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Chico, California	122 mg/L	4.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Redding compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Redding	78.1 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Redding's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 587.8 mg/LpH: 8.3

The City of Redding Water Utility serves 87,741 people across Redding, Centerville, and Shasta Lake in Shasta County, California. The utility operates a mixed supply system drawing 72% of treated water from surface sources — the Sacramento River and Whiskeytown Reservoir, which together provided approximately 5.52 billion gallons (16,950 acre-feet) in the reporting period — and 28% from groundwater in the Redding Groundwater Basin. Water is distributed through multiple pressure zones including the Enterprise, Buckeye, Foothill, and Hilltop-Dana zones.

The watershed encompasses the upper Sacramento River drainage and the Redding Groundwater Basin, fed by Sierra Nevada snowmelt and local precipitation. Rapid snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada produces softer water due to limited contact with mineral-rich soils, while groundwater contributions from deeper sedimentary zones add moderate mineral content. This geological mix of rapid-runoff mountain terrain and sedimentary aquifer formations results in water with low to moderate alkalinity.

At 78.1 mg/L, Redding's water is classified as moderately soft, meaning residents may notice only minor scale buildup on fixtures and slightly reduced soap lathering. Most household appliances and water heaters will experience minimal stress; periodic descaling of coffee makers and kettles may be beneficial. A water softener is not typically essential at this level but may be considered optional for those preferring softer water for laundry or personal care. The system meets all EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goals with a perfect quality score and zero violations.

Geology & Source: Sacramento River and Whiskeytown Reservoir surface supply; Sierra Nevada snowmelt through mountain terrain limits mineral contact — Redding Groundwater Basin sedimentary aquifer adds moderate hardness

Other California Water Reports

Shasta Lake

82 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Anderson

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Red Bluff

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Chico

122 mg/L

🟠 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 Redding's water safe to drink?

Yes. Redding's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 78.1 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 Redding?

Redding's water is moderately hard at 78.1 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Redding compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Redding (78.1 mg/L) is 73 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 Redding 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.