Home Gardens Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.1 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
381.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.37
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 Home Gardens, your appliances are currently losing 18% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Home Gardens | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -41% |
| Washing Machine | 8.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -29% |
| Water Heater | 10.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -33% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Home Gardens compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Home Gardens, California | 138 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Corona, California | 135.5 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Norco, California | 63 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Eastvale, California | 188.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Pedley, California | 191.5 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Home Gardens compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Home Gardens | 138 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Home Gardens's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Home Gardens, California, in Riverside County — a Riverside County census-designated place adjacent to Corona and Lake Mathews in south California — receives its water from the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) or Western Municipal Water District, drawing from Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Colorado River and State Water Project imports through the south California distribution.
The hard 138 mg/L hardness and TDS of 381.9 mg/L reflect the Riverside County MWD import supply's hard calcareous character — the Colorado River import carries dissolved minerals from arid Southwest carbonate formations, while the Santa Ana watershed Quaternary alluvium adds local calcareous content from the Peninsular Range foothills (compare Corona CA: 135/374 in Riverside County comparable; Lake Mathews CA: 141/389 in Riverside County comparable; Home Gardens consistent hard from the same Riverside County MWD-Santa Ana blended calcareous supply). The Santa Ana watershed — Cretaceous Peninsular Ranges Batholith (insoluble — dilutant), Quaternary Santa Ana alluvium (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Holocene Riverside alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 138 mg/L with TDS 382, Home Gardens' water is hard — scale builds in appliances and fixtures. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.9 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review EMWD's annual water quality report for the latest monitoring data.
Geology & Source: Home Gardens in Riverside County draws from the Eastern Municipal Water District on MWD imports (Riverside County, south California) — the Santa Ana watershed at Riverside County drains Cretaceous Peninsular Ranges Batholith (insoluble) and Quaternary Santa Ana alluvium (calcareous) — California Riverside County MWD-Santa Ana blended supply produces hard water at 138 mg/L with TDS 381.9 mg/L.