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

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

Lemay Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

8.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

384 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 Lemay, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Lemay	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 Lemay compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Lemay, Missouri	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Mehlville, Missouri	67 mg/L	6.8 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
Affton, Missouri	67 mg/L	6.3 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
Oakville, Missouri	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Concord, Missouri	≈ 180+ mg/L	6 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Lemay compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 384 mg/LpH: 8.1

The American Water utility serves Lemay, Missouri, drawing from the Missouri and Meramec Rivers as primary surface water sources, supplemented by groundwater from local carbonate aquifers. The utility operates multiple treatment plants and supplies approximately 180 million gallons per day across its service territory. The watershed encompasses the lower Mississippi River basin and tributaries including the Meramec River.

The underlying geology consists primarily of Ordovician and Devonian limestone and dolomite formations, which are highly soluble carbonate rocks. These formations naturally contribute dissolved minerals—particularly calcium and magnesium—to both surface and groundwater supplies, resulting in a hard water supply characteristic of the region. The Mississippi River valley's unique geology plays a significant role in shaping the water's chemical composition.

For residents, this means scale buildup on fixtures, reduced soap effectiveness, and potential impacts on water heater efficiency and appliance lifespan are all possibilities. Households concerned about these effects may want to consider a water softener, especially for washing machines, dishwashers, and hot water systems. Regular maintenance of plumbing and appliances is also advisable to mitigate the effects of the region's hard water. American Water's water quality reporting indicates the utility meets or exceeds EPA and Missouri Department of Natural Resources standards, and residents can obtain more detailed information from their Consumer Confidence Report or by contacting the utility's Water Quality Specialist.

Geology & Source: Mississippi River valley - Ordovician; Devonian limestone and dolomite; carbonate aquifers; calcium and magnesium contribute to hard character

Other Missouri Water Reports

Mehlville

67 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Affton

67 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Oakville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Concord

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very 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 Lemay's water safe to drink?

Yes. Lemay'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 Lemay?

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

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