How does Barstow's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Barstow (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

Barstow Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

276.5 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · est.

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Barstow, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Barstow	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Barstow compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Barstow, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	5 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Barstow Heights, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Apple Valley, California	150 mg/L	33.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Victorville, California	38.57 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Adelanto, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	18.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Barstow compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Barstow	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Barstow's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 276.5 mg/LpH: 7.7

Golden State Water Company operates the Barstow Water System, serving approximately 34,241 residents in San Bernardino County, California. The utility sources drinking water exclusively from groundwater via five wells pumping from the local aquifer in the Mojave River Basin. Water is treated at facilities compliant with state and federal standards before distribution. The system maintains an excellent compliance record with no violations since 2023 and meets all EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.

The Mojave River Basin is a desert groundwater basin fed by episodic surface flows from the San Bernardino and Old Woman Mountains. The aquifer consists of Quaternary alluvium and basin-fill deposits overlying the Tertiary Barstow Formation, with deeper influences from Paleozoic carbonate rocks exposed in source highlands. Water leaching through limestone and dolomite picks up calcium and magnesium, producing a hard supply with elevated dissolved solids typical of desert groundwater.

Very hard water causes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan — hot water appliances may require descaling every 1–2 years. Soap lathering is poor, leaving films on skin, hair, and laundry; fixtures may develop stubborn stains. Regular vinegar flushes, scale-inhibiting filters, and increased detergent use are recommended; a water softener is strongly advised. The 2017 Consumer Confidence Report confirmed no health-based MCL exceedances, with treatment including disinfection, corrosion control, and pH management.

Geology & Source: Mojave River Basin aquifer — Quaternary/Tertiary alluvial deposits overlying Miocene Barstow Formation; limestone and dolomite from San Bernardino Mountains dissolve calcium and magnesium, producing hard water

Other California Water Reports

Barstow Heights

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Apple Valley

150 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Victorville

38.57 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Adelanto

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Barstow's water safe to drink?

Yes. Barstow's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Barstow?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Barstow's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 45%.

How does Barstow compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Barstow (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Barstow is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.