Campbell Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
180+ mg/L
Very Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
192.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.91
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Campbell, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Campbell | 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 Campbell compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Campbell, California | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Los Gatos, California | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Santa Clara, California | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| San Jose, California | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Saratoga, California | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Campbell compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Campbell | ≈ 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 Campbell's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
San Jose Water Company (SJW) serves Campbell, California, in Santa Clara County, providing water to over one million people across the region. The utility blends three sources: groundwater from wells in the Santa Clara Groundwater Basin, imported surface water from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (sourced via the State Water Project and Central Valley Project from Sierra Nevada snowmelt), and mountain surface water from local sources. Standard filtration, disinfection, and blending occur to meet regulatory requirements; no specific treatment plant names were identified in retrieved sources.
The Santa Clara Groundwater Basin is an unconfined alluvial aquifer underlain by marine sedimentary deposits from the Miocene epoch, including silts, sands, and clays with embedded carbonate lenses that dissolve calcium and magnesium during percolation, yielding a hard supply. Imported surface water traverses granitic batholiths and metavolcanics, contributing softer, less mineralised water. Mountain surface water draws from local reservoirs in volcanic and sedimentary formations of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and blending moderates overall hardness.
Very hard water causes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, coffee makers, and showerheads, where evaporation concentrates minerals into white residue. Spots on glassware and reduced appliance efficiency are common. Regular vinegar descaling, scale-inhibiting filters, or boiler magnets help with maintenance; a water softener is recommended to extend equipment life. Water quality shows pH ranges of 7.0–8.7; no lead or copper violations have been noted recently, and no health-based violations since 2023. Bromoform has been detected above EPA aesthetic levels in some tests; treatment involves coagulation, filtration, and chloramination.
Geology & Source: Santa Clara Groundwater Basin — Pleistocene alluvial aquifer with carbonate-rich sediments yields hard groundwater; blended with softer Sierra Nevada granitic surface water via State Water Project and Central Valley Project
Other California Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Campbell's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Campbell?
How does Campbell compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Campbell is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.