Burbank Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Burbank, California, in the eastern San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County, draws its municipal water supply through the Burbank Water and Power (BWP) utility, sourcing primarily from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) regional water supply network — including the Los Angeles Aqueduct (Owens Valley and Mono Basin Sierra Nevada water) and State Water Project imports. Burbank historically operated its own San Fernando Valley Groundwater Basin wells, but extensive groundwater contamination (perchlorate and trichloroethylene from former aerospace industry) led to the Burbank Western Operable Unit (BWOU) Superfund groundwater remediation program. Current supply relies heavily on LADWP regional imports. Water hardness measures 131 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.

Burbank's moderate hardness reflects the LADWP regional supply blend in the eastern San Fernando Valley zone, where the distribution system's groundwater component from the San Fernando Valley Groundwater Basin (the main basin alluvial aquifer beneath the valley floor) adds moderate calcium from alluvial sediment contact. The aqueduct fraction contributes soft Sierra Nevada snowmelt. The eastern San Fernando Valley distribution zone shows slightly higher hardness than the central city aqueduct-dominant zones, reflecting the groundwater fraction of the LADWP blend in this service area.

At 131 mg/L, Burbank residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. Dishwashers produce cleaner glassware with rinse-aid, and water heaters benefit from periodic inspection. Burbank Water and Power consistently delivers water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.