Pasadena Water Quality Breakdown
Your home's water hardness is a significant factor in your daily costs and appliance longevity. Here are the core facts for Pasadena:
- Water Hardness: 12.0 GPG / 205.2 PPM
- Classification: Very Hard
- Water Source: Blended supply of local groundwater and imported water via the Metropolitan Water District.
For comparison, the U.S. national average is around 5 GPG. Pasadena's water is more than double the average, meaning it carries a substantial load of dissolved calcium and magnesium. A 12.0 GPG rating means for every gallon of water that passes through your pipes, it's carrying the equivalent of 12 grains of dissolved rock.
The Real Cost of Hard Water on Your Appliances
That dissolved rock doesn't just pass through; it builds up inside your pipes and appliances. Over a year, a typical Pasadena household will accumulate 2.8 pounds of calcium carbonate (limescale) inside its water system. This has costly consequences:
- Water Heaters: Scale acts as insulation between your gas burner or electric element and the water. This forces your heater to work 15-25% harder to reach the target temperature, inflating your utility bills from Los Angeles Dept of Water & Power. The constant strain cuts the average water heater lifespan from 12-15 years down to just 9 years.
- Washing Machines & Dishwashers: Hard water minerals bind with soap and detergents, reducing their effectiveness. You'll use 30-50% more detergent, soap, and shampoo to get a proper lather, and clothes come out stiff and dingy.
- Kettles & Coffee Makers: The visible white, chalky buildup you see in your electric kettle is a clear sign of what's happening invisibly inside your more expensive appliances. This scale also affects the taste of your coffee and tea.
How Hard Water Affects Your Skin and Hair
While the minerals in hard water are not a direct health hazard to ingest, they create daily quality-of-life issues. The high concentration of calcium and magnesium prevents soap from rinsing cleanly, leaving a residue on your body.
- Skin & Scalp: This soap scum residue can clog pores, leading to dry, itchy skin and aggravating conditions like eczema. It can also cause a dry, flaky scalp and dull, brittle hair.
- Bathing: You will notice it's difficult to get a rich lather from soaps and shampoos. What lather you do get quickly dissipates, leaving you feeling less than clean.
- Families: When preparing baby formula, the high mineral content can be a consideration, though it is generally considered safe.
Choosing the Right Filtration System for Pasadena
With a hardness level of 12.0 GPG, treating your water is a financially sound decision. Your home falls into the 'Hard' category where intervention provides significant benefits.
- Recommended Solution: For this level, a salt-free water conditioner is an excellent, low-maintenance choice. It crystallizes the minerals so they can't stick to pipes and appliances, without adding salt to your water. For those who want the slippery feel of soft water and maximum detergent savings, a traditional whole-house water softener is the most effective option.
- Drinking Water: To improve taste and remove other contaminants, supplement your whole-house system with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) filter for your kitchen. This provides purified water for drinking and cooking.
A whole-house softener (around $1,500 installed) pays for itself over time. Based on local data, it will take approximately 11.9 years to recoup the cost through annual savings of $126 on energy, detergents, and delayed appliance replacement. This calculation doesn't even include the hundreds saved by no longer buying bottled water.