Moses Lake Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
120.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.15
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 Moses Lake, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Moses Lake | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -8% |
| Washing Machine | 11.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -3% |
| Water Heater | 13.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -11% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Moses Lake compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Moses Lake, Washington | 54.5 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| West Richland, Washington | 20.5 mg/L | 1.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Richland, Washington | 31.5 mg/L | 1.8 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Tri-Cities, Washington | 26 mg/L | 1.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Pasco, Washington | 47.5 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Moses Lake compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Moses Lake | 54.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Moses Lake's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Moses Lake, Washington, in Grant County in the heart of the Columbia Basin — a central Washington agricultural hub on Moses Lake (one of the largest natural lakes in Washington State), known for its potato and hop farming, the Moses Lake Municipal Airport (a former Strategic Air Command base), and proximity to Grand Coulee Dam — receives its municipal water from the City of Moses Lake Water Division, which draws from Moses Lake itself or from the Columbia Basin Project (CBP) East Low Canal delivery infrastructure. The CBP brings Columbia River water from Grand Coulee Dam to irrigate the Columbia Basin's 500,000+ agricultural acres.
The very soft 54.5 mg/L hardness and low TDS of 120.2 mg/L reflect the Columbia River supply's softness in the Grand Coulee distribution zone. The Columbia River at Grand Coulee draws from the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the Northern Cascades — predominantly Precambrian metamorphic, Jurassic-Cretaceous plutonic (Nelson Batholith), and Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group volcanic terrains — all low-carbonate rock sequences. The Columbia Basin Project delivers this soft Columbia River water through extensive canal infrastructure to Moses Lake and the surrounding Grant County agricultural zone, maintaining the naturally soft, low-TDS Columbia River character throughout the distribution system.
At 54.5 mg/L, Moses Lake's water is very soft — excellent for household appliances and all uses. Scale forms slowly over many months in kettles and appliances, soap lathers generously, and the dishwasher produces spotless results. Semi-annual descaling of heating appliances is adequate. The PFAS level of 2.5 ppt is excellent — the Moses Lake Municipal Airport (Larson Air Force Base until 1966) has PFAS contamination from historic AFFF firefighting foam use, but the Columbia Basin Project supply's dilution effect and the City of Moses Lake's intake positioning produce one of central Washington's better finished water PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Moses Lake in Grant County draws from the Moses Lake city supply or the Columbia Basin Project delivery via the East Low Canal — Moses Lake receives Columbia River water through the Grand Coulee Dam irrigation system draining the Columbia Plateau basalts (Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group) with low carbonate content — Columbia Plateau basalt-dominated supply produces very soft water at 54.5 mg/L with low TDS 120 mg/L in this Grant County Columbia Basin city.