Gardena Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.2 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
165 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.19
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 Gardena, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Gardena | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -15% |
| Washing Machine | 10.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -9% |
| Water Heater | 12.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -15% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Gardena compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Gardena, California | 72 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Lawndale, California | 145.5 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Hawthorne, California | 180 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Westmont, California | 79.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Willowbrook, California | 164.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Gardena compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Gardena | 72 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Gardena's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Gardena, California, in south Los Angeles County adjacent to Torrance and Compton — a south Los Angeles suburban city with a large Japanese-American community (one of the largest in Southern California), known for its historic poker clubs — draws its municipal water supply from the West Coast Basin and Central Basin of the Los Angeles Coastal Plain Groundwater Basin and Metropolitan Water District (MWD) imported water via the City of Gardena Water Department. Water hardness in Gardena measures 72 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Gardena's moderate softness reflects the west Los Angeles Coastal Plain basin's soft supply blend. The south Los Angeles West Coast Basin is managed by the West Basin Municipal Water District, which provides significant spreading of soft MWD State Water Project imports into the coastal basin. The Central Basin (Los Angeles Central Groundwater Basin) in Gardena's area carries moderate calcareous content from the Quaternary alluvial sediments of the Los Angeles River and Compton Creek drainage (depositing calcareous sediments from the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains). The blend of SWP-recharged soft groundwater and MWD imports produces the moderate 72 mg/L at Gardena.
With hardness at 72 mg/L, Gardena residents enjoy moderately soft water with minimal scale challenges. City of Gardena Water Department consistently delivers water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the West Coast Basin and Central Basin (Los Angeles Coastal Plain Groundwater Basin) and Metropolitan Water District (MWD) imports via the City of Gardena Water Department — the Los Angeles south suburban coastal plain Quaternary alluvial basin; moderately soft supply at 72 mg/L in Los Angeles County.