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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Delano (66 mg/L) is 85 mg/L softer than average.

Delano Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

66mg/L

Moderately Hard

3.9 grains per gallon

Source

groundwater

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

434.4 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.18

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

66mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

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 Delano, your appliances are currently losing 9% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Delano	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.4 yrs	8.5 yrs	-13%
Washing Machine	11.2 yrs	12 yrs	-7%
Water Heater	13 yrs	15 yrs	-13%

Regional Water Comparison

How Delano compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Delano, California	66 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	groundwater
McFarland, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Wasco, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Shafter, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Porterville, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	251 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Delano compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Delano	66 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Delano's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 434.4 mg/LpH: 8

The City of Delano Water System, operated by the City of Delano Department of Public Works, serves Kern County, California. Water is sourced entirely from groundwater via fourteen active wells distributed throughout the service area — including locations at 22nd & Kalibo, N. Kern State Prison, and Morris and S. Belmont — with no reliance on surface water sources such as rivers or reservoirs. Well #32 is currently inactive.

Delano's groundwater originates from aquifers beneath the southern San Joaquin Valley, a region characterized by Quaternary and Tertiary sedimentary deposits. These geological formations contain naturally occurring dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium carbonates, which have accumulated over millennia and contribute to the moderately soft character of the local supply. The valley's hydrogeology reflects its long agricultural and depositional history.

At 66 mg/L, Delano's water is moderately soft and poses few significant scaling issues, though minor mineral deposits on fixtures and gradual accumulation in water heaters and dishwashers may occur over time. Reduced soap lathering is possible. A water softener is not essential but may benefit households with sensitive appliances or high water usage. The City of Delano meets EPA arsenic standards — the highest detected concentration in 2024 was 14 ppb — and sodium measured 93.7 mg/L in 2022. Annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) document compliance with all Maximum Contaminant Levels.

Geology & Source: Southern San Joaquin Valley; Quaternary and Tertiary sedimentary aquifer deposits containing calcium and magnesium carbonates — moderate mineral dissolution produces moderately soft groundwater characteristic of California's inland agricultural

Other California Water Reports

McFarland

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Wasco

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Shafter

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Porterville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

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 Delano's water safe to drink?

Yes. Delano's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 66 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Delano?

Delano's water is moderately hard at 66 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Delano compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Delano (66 mg/L) is 85 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Delano 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.