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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Reedley (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Reedley Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

8.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.009 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

605.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Reedley, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Reedley	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Reedley compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Reedley, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Parlier, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Dinuba, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Kingsburg, California	169.5 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Sanger, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	39.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Reedley compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Reedley	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Reedley's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 605.8 mg/LpH: 8.3

The City of Reedley Public Works Department manages the municipal water supply for approximately 25,000 residents in Reedley, located in Fresno County, California, within the San Joaquin Valley. Water is sourced entirely from local groundwater wells tapping the Kings Subbasin of the San Joaquin Valley Groundwater Basin. Treatment involves disinfection with chlorine at wellhead facilities, with no major centralized treatment plant. The service area covers the city and select surrounding unincorporated areas in eastern Fresno County, with annual Consumer Confidence Reports published confirming testing of over 100 constituents — the 2022 CCR confirming no violations for lead or copper at the 90th percentile levels.

The San Joaquin Valley Groundwater Basin, specifically the Kings Subbasin, is fed by subsurface flow from the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges. Key geological features include thick Quaternary alluvial aquifers formed by riverine deposits of granitic, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, with significant limestone and dolomite outcrops upstream influencing ion leaching. This geology imparts a hard supply character due to natural dissolution of alkaline earth minerals, yielding elevated calcium and magnesium content. The basin's semi-arid climate and irrigation practices further concentrate dissolved minerals through evaporation and recharge dynamics.

Scale buildup is the primary practical concern, manifesting as chalky deposits in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers, reducing flow efficiency and increasing heating costs. Installing sediment pre-filters, periodic vinegar flushes for fixtures, and scale-inhibiting showerheads all help. A water softener is recommended to prevent spotting on glassware and extend appliance longevity. Third-party analyses note 10 contaminants exceeding health guidelines, including disinfection byproducts; pH is typically neutral to slightly alkaline due to natural buffering. Ongoing monitoring addresses agricultural runoff contaminants such as nitrates.

Geology & Source: San Joaquin Valley Groundwater Basin — Kings Subbasin; Quaternary-Holocene alluvial sands, gravels, silts from Sierra Nevada weathering; limestone and dolomite source rocks concentrate calcium and magnesium — characteristically hard supply

Other California Water Reports

Parlier

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Dinuba

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Kingsburg

169.5 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Sanger

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Reedley's water safe to drink?

Yes. Reedley's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Reedley?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Reedley's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Reedley compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Reedley (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 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 Reedley 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.