Fairfield Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.4 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
348.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.34
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 Fairfield, your appliances are currently losing 17% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fairfield | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -36% |
| Washing Machine | 8.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -26% |
| Water Heater | 10.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -30% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fairfield compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fairfield, California | 127.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Suisun, California | 171.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Vacaville, California | 35 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Benicia, California | 182 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| American Canyon, California | 100.5 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Fairfield compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fairfield | 127.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fairfield's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fairfield, California — the Solano County seat — draws its municipal water supply through the City of Fairfield Utilities Department, sourcing primarily from the Solano Project operated by the Solano Irrigation District: water stored in Lake Berryessa (Napa County) delivered via the Putah South Canal to Solano County treatment facilities, and supplemented by local Solano County groundwater from alluvial wells along Suisun Marsh and the lower Putah Creek basin. Water hardness in Fairfield measures 127.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Fairfield's moderate hardness is somewhat higher than nearby Vallejo (44.5 mg/L) drawing from the same Lake Berryessa Solano Project source, reflecting differences in local groundwater blend and distribution system factors. The Lake Berryessa source water is naturally very soft due to the Jurassic–Cretaceous Franciscan Complex watershed geology (chert, greywacke, greenstone) of the Lake and Napa County interior Coast Range — inherently low in soluble calcium. However, Fairfield's service area incorporates more local Solano County alluvial groundwater from the Putah–Cache Creek alluvial fan and Suisun–Vacaville terrace deposits — alluvial sediments derived from the calcareous Diablo Range Tertiary formations — contributing moderate dissolved calcium to the blended supply.
At 127.5 mg/L, Fairfield residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is a practical routine. Dishwashers produce cleaner glassware with rinse-aid. City of Fairfield Utilities Department and Solano Irrigation District consistently deliver water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from the Solano Project (Lake Berryessa, Putah Creek) via Solano Irrigation District and Fairfield–Suisun Sewer District, plus local Suisun Marsh and solano county groundwater — the Jurassic–Cretaceous Franciscan Complex Coast Range watershed of Lake Berryessa provides soft base water; distribution blending raises hardness to moderately hard 127.5 mg/L in the Solano County service area.