Paramount Water Quality Analysis
- Hardness in GPG: 12.0
- Hardness in PPM: 205.2
- Primary Source: Imported State & Regional Water
The US national average for water hardness is approximately 5 GPG. Paramount's water contains over twice this amount of dissolved rock. This means that your pipes and water-using appliances are constantly exposed to high levels of calcium and magnesium, the minerals responsible for creating damaging scale.
The Real Cost of Hard Water on Your Appliances
The invisible problem of 12.0 GPG water becomes very visible in your budget. Each year, an average household in Paramount will see about 2.8 pounds of rock scale form inside its plumbing system. This directly impacts your appliances' performance and lifespan.
- Gas & Electric Water Heaters: Scale buildup forces your heater to run longer and burn more fuel to heat the same amount of water, raising bills from the Los Angeles Dept of Water & Power. This strain cuts the expected lifespan of the heater from 12-15 years down to only 9 years.
- Detergent & Soap Waste: The minerals in hard water interfere with the cleaning agents in soaps and detergents, forcing you to use 30-50% more product to get clean clothes and dishes.
- Plumbing Fixtures: Showerheads, faucets, and valves clog with scale, reducing water pressure and requiring frequent, difficult cleaning or expensive replacement.
Impact on Skin, Hair, and Comfort
While hard water is safe to drink, its effects on your body are noticeable. The high mineral content reacts with soap to form a sticky scum that doesn't rinse away cleanly. This residue can clog pores and coat hair follicles, leading to:
- Chronically dry or itchy skin.
- Worsened conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
- Dull, lifeless hair that is difficult to manage.
- A sticky film on your skin after showering.
Choosing the Right Water System for Paramount
Given the 12.0 GPG hardness level, a comprehensive filtration strategy is necessary to protect your home.
- Recommended System (Very Hard Water): A whole-house, salt-based water softener is the industry standard for this level of hardness. It physically removes calcium and magnesium, stopping scale before it starts. For drinking water, an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) filter is an excellent addition.
- Alternative: A salt-free water conditioner can be used to prevent scale from adhering to surfaces, but it will not provide the other benefits of soft water, like better soap lathering.
There's a clear financial incentive. A typical whole-house softener installation costs around $1,500 but saves you an estimated $126 per year in energy, soap, and appliance longevity. This means the system pays for itself in about 11.9 years while providing immediate benefits from day one.