Lewiston Orchards Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.7 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
316 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.35
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Lewiston Orchards, your appliances are currently losing 18% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Lewiston Orchards | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -18% |
| Washing Machine | 9.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -18% |
| Water Heater | 12.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -18% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Lewiston Orchards compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lewiston Orchards, Idaho | 132.5 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Lewiston, Idaho | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Moscow, Idaho | 35.5 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Pullman, Washington | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Cheney, Washington | 23 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Lewiston Orchards compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lewiston Orchards | 132.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Lewiston Orchards's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District (LOID), based at 1520 Powers Avenue, Lewiston, ID 83501, serves domestic water to the Lewiston Orchards area in Nez Perce County. The utility operates three groundwater wells: Well #2 near Mann Lake, Well #3 on Warner Avenue, and Well #4 in Hereth Park. Water is sourced directly from these wells tapping the local aquifer, with no surface water or treatment plants mentioned. LOID also holds water rights for storage of up to 19,306 acre-feet for municipal and fire protection purposes.
The supply originates from the Lewiston Valley watershed within the Snake River basin, underlain by the Columbia River Basalt Group — Miocene-age volcanic basalt layers interbedded with alluvial sediments. Overlying Pleistocene glacial till and unconsolidated deposits form a productive unconfined aquifer, where water dissolves natural calcium and magnesium minerals during subsurface flow through fractured rock. This geology imparts a moderately mineralised quality to the groundwater, varying by well operation and aquifer zone.
At slightly to moderately hard levels, scale buildup occurs in dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Soap and detergent use increases due to poorer sudsing. Regular deliming of fixtures and using high-efficiency appliances helps; a water softener is recommended if spotting on dishes persists. No specific pH, lead, copper, or PFAS data are available from recent CCRs; water hardness is the primary noted parameter, varying by well without implied violations. Treatment is minimal as untreated groundwater, with compliance with standards assumed per published reports.
Geology & Source: Lewiston Valley unconfined aquifer; Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group — volcanic basalt interbedded with alluvial and Pleistocene glacial sediments; mineral dissolution through fractured rock yields moderately hard groundwater
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How does Lewiston Orchards compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Lewiston Orchards is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.