Azusa Water Quality Breakdown
- Water Hardness: 12.0 GPG (Grains Per Gallon)
- Water Hardness: 205.2 PPM (Parts Per Million)
- Water Source: A combination of local groundwater from the San Gabriel Valley and imported State Water Project water.
For context, the U.S. average water hardness is around 5 GPG. At 12.0 GPG, Azusa's water contains more than double the mineral content of average water. This means for every gallon of water that runs through your pipes, 12 grains of dissolved rock—primarily calcium and magnesium—are coming with it.
The Real Cost of Hard Water on Your Home
The 12.0 GPG hardness in Azusa water creates tangible problems for your home's infrastructure. Over a year, this results in approximately 2.8 lbs of calcium carbonate (limescale) building up inside your plumbing and appliances. This scale has significant financial consequences:
- Water Heater Inefficiency: Scale acts as insulation inside your gas water heater, forcing the burner to work harder to heat the water. With this level of hardness, your water heater's efficiency can be reduced by 15-25%, leading to higher bills from Los Angeles Dept of Water & Power.
- Reduced Appliance Lifespan: A standard water heater is expected to last 12-15 years. In Azusa, that lifespan is cut to just 9 years. The same damage affects your dishwasher, washing machine, and coffee maker.
- Increased Household Costs: Hard water requires 30-50% more soap and detergent to create a lather, increasing your monthly spending on cleaning supplies.
How Very Hard Water Affects Your Family
While the minerals in Azusa's water aren't a direct health hazard, they certainly impact your daily life. The high calcium and magnesium content prevents soap from lathering effectively, leaving a residue on your skin and hair. This leads to common complaints of:
- Dry, itchy skin and aggravated eczema
- Dull, brittle hair and an itchy scalp
- Soap scum residue on sinks, tubs, and glass shower doors
For families with infants, preparing baby formula with very hard water can sometimes affect its consistency and taste due to the high mineral load.
Filtration Guide for Azusa's 12.0 GPG Water
With water this hard, simple pitcher filters won't protect your home's expensive appliances. A whole-house solution is the most effective approach.
- High Recommendation: A traditional salt-based water softener is the best solution for completely removing hardness minerals. It protects your entire plumbing system, eliminates soap scum, and makes skin and hair feel softer.
- Salt-Free Alternative: A salt-free water conditioner is a viable option if you prefer not to deal with salt or live in an area with brine discharge restrictions. It won't remove minerals but crystallizes them to prevent scale from sticking to pipes and heater elements.
Considering the investment, a whole-house softener (around $1,500 installed) will pay for itself in approximately 11.9 years, based on annual savings of $126 from lower energy use, reduced detergent needs, and longer appliance lifecycles.