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

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

Salida Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

mixed

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

373.2 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 Salida, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Salida	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 Salida compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Salida, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Ripon, California	260.8 mg/L	41 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Modesto, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	307.1 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Riverbank, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Manteca, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	106.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Salida compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Salida	≈ 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 Salida's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: MixedTDS: 373.2 mg/LpH: 7.9

The City of Modesto Water Utility provides drinking water to Salida, California, drawing exclusively from groundwater sources within the San Joaquin Valley aquifer. This system serves an estimated 24,985 residents through its treatment facility, located at 1010 10th Street in Modesto, CA 95354. Unlike many communities, Salida's water supply has no surface water component, relying entirely on what lies beneath the ground.

The Salida water originates from the San Joaquin Valley aquifer, a complex geological system comprising Quaternary and Tertiary sedimentary layers, including alluvial deposits and older rock formations. As groundwater travels through these mineral-rich underground strata, it naturally dissolves significant amounts of calcium and magnesium from limestone and chalk deposits. This process is characteristic of groundwater in California's Central Valley, leading to a consistently hard water supply for the community.

Homeowners in Salida will likely observe the effects of this hard water, such as mineral buildup in pipes, water heaters, and various appliances. You might also notice that soap doesn't lather as easily, and scale deposits can form on faucets and showerheads. To safeguard your plumbing and extend the life of appliances, especially those with high hot-water usage like dishwashers and water heaters, installing a water softener is a practical recommendation. The City of Modesto's 2026 water quality report indicates the Salida system meets all state and federal drinking water standards, receiving a grade of B (73/100), with no tested contaminants exceeding EPA limits.

Geology & Source: San Joaquin Valley aquifer system; Quaternary alluvial deposits and Tertiary sedimentary formations; limestone and chalk deposits create hard water

Other California Water Reports

Ripon

260.8 mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Modesto

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Riverbank

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Manteca

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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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 Salida's water safe to drink?

Yes. Salida'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 Salida?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Salida'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 Salida compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Salida (≈ 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 Salida 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.