Garden City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
61.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.10
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 Garden City, your appliances are currently losing 5% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Garden City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -1% |
| Washing Machine | 12.2 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -6% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Garden City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Garden City, Idaho | 37 mg/L | 1.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Boise, Idaho | 53.5 mg/L | 1.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Eagle, Idaho | 61.5 mg/L | 1.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Meridian, Idaho | 113.5 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Kuna, Idaho | 107 mg/L | 2.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Garden City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Garden City | 37 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Garden City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Garden City, Idaho, in Ada County — an Ada County city adjacent to Boise and Eagle on the Boise River in southwest Idaho — receives its water from the City of Garden City Water Department, drawing from the Boise River and Idaho Diversion Dam through the southwest Idaho distribution.
The ultra-soft 37 mg/L hardness and very low TDS of 61.4 mg/L make Garden City's water among the softest municipal supplies in the Mountain West — the Quaternary Snake River Plain Basalt and Mesozoic Idaho Batholith Granodiorite are both highly insoluble crystalline rocks, producing pristine, mineral-poor snowmelt water from the Boise Mountains headwaters (compare Boise ID: 36/59 in Ada County comparable; Eagle ID: 38/63 in Ada County comparable; Garden City consistent ultra-soft from the same Ada County Boise River volcanic basalt supply). The Boise watershed — Quaternary Snake River Plain Basalt (insoluble — primary dilutant), Mesozoic Idaho Batholith Granodiorite (insoluble — secondary dilutant), and Holocene Boise River alluvium (insoluble — minimal TDS).
At 37 mg/L with TDS 61, Garden City has among the softest and cleanest water in Idaho — virtually no scale buildup. The PFAS level of 1.2 ppt is very low — an excellent result. Review the City of Garden City's annual water quality report for the latest contaminant monitoring data.
Geology & Source: Garden City in Ada County draws from the Garden City Water on the Boise River reservoir (Ada County, southwest Idaho) — the Boise watershed at Ada County drains Quaternary Snake River Plain Basalt (insoluble) and Mesozoic Idaho Batholith Granodiorite (insoluble) — Idaho Ada County Boise River volcanic basalt supply produces ultra-soft water at 37 mg/L with TDS 61.4 mg/L.