Marana Water Quality Profile
- Water Hardness: 14.7 GPG / 251.4 PPM
- Classification: Very Hard
- Water Source: Groundwater (Pima County Average)
The national average water hardness is around 5 GPG. At 14.7 GPG, Marana's water is nearly three times harder than average. This means for every gallon of water passing through your pipes, it carries the equivalent mineral content of 14.7 grains of dissolved rock, primarily calcium and magnesium.
The Cost of Hard Water on Your Home
The minerals in Marana's water deposit as limescale inside your home's systems, leading to significant costs. This results in:
- Scale Buildup: Your household plumbing and appliances accumulate approximately 3.5 lbs of calcium carbonate scale each year. This is like a small bag of rock depositing inside your pipes and water heater annually.
- Water Heater Inefficiency: Scale acts as insulation between the gas burner or electric element and the water. At 14.7 GPG, your heater has to work 15-25% harder, and its lifespan is cut from a normal 12-15 years down to just 7.7 years.
- Appliance Damage: Dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers become clogged and operate less efficiently. You'll use 30-50% more detergent and soap just to get a proper lather, a persistent hidden cost.
Impacts on Skin and Hair
While safe to drink, the high mineral content in Marana's water presents daily challenges for personal care. The minerals prevent soap and shampoo from lathering properly, leaving behind a residue on your skin and hair.
- Leads to dry, itchy skin and can exacerbate conditions like eczema.
- Leaves hair feeling brittle, dull, and difficult to manage due to mineral buildup.
- Soap scum builds up quickly on shower doors, sinks, and tubs, requiring more frequent and aggressive cleaning.
Choosing the Right Water Treatment System
With water hardness at 14.7 GPG, proactive treatment is a financial necessity, not a luxury. For Marana homes, two main options make sense:
- Hard (7-15 GPG) Recommendation: A salt-free water conditioner is an excellent choice. It prevents the 3.5 lbs of annual scale from damaging pipes and appliances without introducing sodium into your water. Pair it with a pitcher or under-sink filter for drinking.
- For Maximum Protection: A traditional whole-house water softener offers the most complete solution, eliminating all hard water effects from soap scum to skin irritation. An under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system is often added for purified drinking water.
The Investment Breakdown: A whole-house softener (around $1,500 installed) pays for itself in approximately 9.5 years through annual savings of $158 on energy from Tucson Electric Power, reduced detergent use, and delayed appliance replacement.