Tanque Verde Water Quality Breakdown
Your local water contains a significant mineral load, which defines its characteristics and impact on your home.
- Water Hardness: 14.7 GPG / 251.4 PPM
- Classification: Very Hard
- Water Source: County Average (Pima County WQP)
This level is more than double the U.S. national average of approximately 5 GPG. In practical terms, 14.7 GPG means that for every gallon of water that evaporates, it leaves behind a mineral deposit equivalent in weight to 14.7 aspirin tablets.
The Real Cost of Hard Water on Your Home
The 14.7 GPG water in Tanque Verde is actively damaging your pipes and appliances from the inside out. Over a year, an average household will see 3.5 pounds of rock-hard calcium carbonate scale deposit itself inside your plumbing system. This isn't just a nuisance; it's a direct hit to your finances.
- Water Heater Inefficiency: Scale buildup acts as insulation on the heating elements of your gas water heater. With water this hard, the unit has to work 20-25% harder, burning more gas to heat the same amount of water. Its lifespan is cut nearly in half, from a typical 12-15 years down to just 7.7 years.
- Appliance Failure: Dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers all suffer. You'll use 30-50% more detergent to get clothes clean, and the delicate internal components of these machines will clog and fail prematurely.
- Visible Scale: That white, chalky residue on your faucets and shower doors is the same material coating the inside of your electric kettle, affecting the taste of your morning coffee and tea.
How Very Hard Water Affects Your Family's Skin and Hair
While municipal water in Tanque Verde is safe to drink, its high mineral content has noticeable effects on daily life. The calcium and magnesium ions react with soap to form a residue that doesn't rinse away cleanly.
- Skin & Hair: This soap scum can leave your skin feeling dry and itchy and may aggravate conditions like eczema. Hair can become brittle, dull, and difficult to manage.
- Bathing: You'll find it difficult to get a good lather from soaps and shampoos, often leading to using more product than necessary.
- Infant Care: When preparing baby formula, the high mineral concentration in hard water can contribute to an infant's total mineral intake. While generally safe, some parents prefer using purified water for consistency.
Filtration Guide for 14.7 GPG Water
With water this hard, point-of-use filters like pitchers are not enough to protect your home. A whole-house solution is the most effective approach.
- Best Option (Maximum Protection): A traditional salt-based water softener is the most complete solution. It will eliminate scale throughout your entire plumbing system. For drinking water, pairing this with an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system provides perfectly pure water for cooking and drinking.
- Alternative (No Salt): A salt-free water conditioner (or template-assisted crystallization conditioner) can be a good alternative. It doesn't remove the minerals but alters their structure to prevent them from forming hard scale inside pipes and appliances.
The financial case is compelling. A whole-house softener (around $1,500 installed) pays for itself in about 9.5 years, thanks to annual savings of $158 on wasted gas and electricity from Tucson Electric Power, extra detergent, and premature appliance replacement.