California City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.1 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
596.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.51
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
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 California City, your appliances are currently losing 25% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In California City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -61% |
| Washing Machine | 6.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -45% |
| Water Heater | 8 yrs | 15 yrs | -47% |
Regional Water Comparison
How California City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ California City, California | 189.5 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Rosamond, California | 140 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Lancaster, California | 103.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Tehachapi, California | 118 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Lake Los Angeles, California | 80 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How California City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ California City | 189.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes California City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
California City, California, in Kern County — a Kern County city adjacent to Mojave and Edwards in the high Mojave Desert of south California — receives its water from the California City Water District, drawing from the State Water Project and local Mojave Desert groundwater aquifer (Kern County) through the south California desert distribution.
The hard 189.5 mg/L hardness and very elevated TDS of 596.6 mg/L reflect the high Mojave Desert Kern County supply's hard calcareous-evaporite character — the Mojave Desert alluvial aquifer's extreme evaporative concentration produces high TDS from carbonate, sulfate, and chloride dissolution in the hyper-arid environment, while the SWP component dilutes somewhat from the Sierra Nevada soft supply but is overwhelmed by the local desert groundwater chemistry. The Kern County Mojave supply — Quaternary Mojave Desert alluvium (calcareous-evaporite — primary TDS contributor from evaporative concentration), Miocene marine-evaporite (sulfate — secondary contributor), and SWP Sierra Nevada component (insoluble — dilutant).
At 189.5 mg/L with TDS 597, California City's water is hard with high TDS. A water softener is recommended to prevent scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is strongly advisable for drinking water given the elevated TDS. The PFAS level of 7.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Edwards Air Force Base (Kern County — AFFF) is a primary contributor to California City's elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: California City in Kern County draws from the California City Water District on the State Water Project and local Mojave Desert aquifer (Kern County, south California) — the Mojave aquifer at Kern County is developed in Quaternary desert alluvium (calcareous-evaporite) with Miocene marine-evaporite contact (calcareous-sulfate) — California Kern County Mojave Desert SWP-alluvial calcareous-evaporite supply produces hard water at 189.5 mg/L with TDS 596.6 mg/L.