Hollister Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.9 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
315.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.32
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 Hollister, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Hollister | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -33% |
| Washing Machine | 9.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -23% |
| Water Heater | 10.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -27% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Hollister compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hollister, California | 118.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Gilroy, California | 110.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Prunedale, California | 67 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Salinas, California | 134 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Watsonville, California | 182 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Hollister compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hollister | 118.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Hollister's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Hollister, California, the San Benito County seat — a major Central California agriculture and gateway community (Hollister is the San Benito County seat and the center of the San Benito Valley agricultural zone), birthplace of the American motorcycle culture (Hollister is considered the 'Birthplace of the American Biker' — the 1947 Hollister riot, a motorcycle rally incident dramatized in the 1954 film 'The Wild One,' established Hollister's motorcycle legacy), headquarters of the California Strawberry Commission and major wine region gateway, and a rapidly growing Central California community in the technology-era Silicon Valley overflow commute zone — draws its municipal water supply from the San Benito Valley Alluvial Aquifer via the San Benito County Water District. Water hardness in Hollister measures 118.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Hollister's moderate hardness reflects the San Benito Valley alluvial aquifer's calcareous geology. The San Benito Valley Alluvial Aquifer draws from the San Benito River Valley (Quaternary calcareous alluvial terrace deposits from the Coast Range Franciscan Complex — the calcareous-moderate mélange, greenstone, and diatomite of the California Coast Range; some calcareous Cretaceous calcarenite). The San Benito County Water District delivers untreated or lightly treated groundwater, producing the moderate 118.5 mg/L.
At 118.5 mg/L, Hollister residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is recommended. San Benito County Water District consistently delivers water meeting all California State Water Board and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the San Benito Valley Alluvial Aquifer via the San Benito County Water District — the San Benito County central Coast Range valley (Quaternary calcareous alluvial terrace deposits of the San Benito River Valley — the central California Coast Range calcareous alluvium from Franciscan Complex and diatomite terrain; limited softening in Hollister); moderately hard supply at 118.5 mg/L in San Benito County.