Daly City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.6 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
189.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.21
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 Daly City, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Daly City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -18% |
| Washing Machine | 10.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -11% |
| Water Heater | 12.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -17% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Daly City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Daly City, California | 79.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Parkside, California | 184.5 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Noe Valley, California | 186 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Visitacion Valley, California | 186 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Mission District, California | 158.5 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Daly City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Daly City | 79.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Daly City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Daly City, California, immediately south of San Francisco in San Mateo County, receives its municipal water supply from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) through the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System, delivering treated Tuolumne River water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park via the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct to the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula. SFPUC also maintains Peninsula Watershed storage at Crystal Springs Reservoir and San Andreas Reservoir in San Mateo County as supplemental sources. Water hardness in Daly City measures 79.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Daly City's moderately soft supply reflects the dominance of Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct water in the SFPUC system. Hetch Hetchy water derives from Tuolumne River snowmelt originating in Yosemite National Park — draining the Tuolumne Batholith (Cretaceous granodiorite) and associated Triassic–Jurassic metavolcanic rocks of the Stanislaus National Forest foothills. These Sierra Nevada crystalline rocks contribute minimal dissolved calcium to snowmelt runoff, producing naturally soft source water. The Peninsula Watershed (Crystal Springs and San Andreas Reservoirs) supplements with local San Mateo County Santa Cruz Mountains Santa Margarita Formation sandstone catchment water — similarly calcium-poor. The blended SFPUC supply throughout Daly City and the San Francisco Peninsula measures consistently in the moderately soft range.
With hardness at 79.5 mg/L, Daly City residents experience minimal scale challenges. Faucet aerators and showerheads rarely need descaling. Soap lathers well. Dishwashers produce clean glassware. SFPUC consistently delivers water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct (Tuolumne River, Yosemite) via the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) — Tuolumne River Sierra Nevada granodiorite snowmelt delivered to the San Francisco Peninsula via the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct; the SFPUC system produces moderately soft supply at 79.5 mg/L throughout the San Francisco Peninsula service area.