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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Lakewood (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

Lakewood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

243.1 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · est.

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 Lakewood, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Lakewood	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Lakewood compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Lakewood, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	27.6 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Bellflower, California	270 mg/L	150 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Paramount, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Artesia, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Signal Hill, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Lakewood compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Lakewood	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Lakewood's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 243.1 mg/LpH: 7.6

The primary utility serving Lakewood, California, is the Lakewood City Water Department, located at 5812 Arbor Road, Lakewood, CA 90713 (562-866-9771), providing water to approximately 58,212 residents across 19,947 connections in Los Angeles County. Water is sourced exclusively from local deep groundwater wells in the Central Groundwater Basin. Portions of the city may also receive service from Golden State Water Company or other regional suppliers depending on neighborhood. Treatment involves disinfection and regular testing to meet state and federal standards; the 2024 Consumer Confidence Report confirmed full compliance with 106 chemicals tested, 19 detected, none exceeding MCLs.

Lakewood's groundwater originates within the Central Groundwater Basin, a major alluvial aquifer spanning the Los Angeles coastal plain. The basin's geology features thick sequences of Quaternary and Pleistocene unconsolidated sediments — sands, gravels, and clays — fed by recharge from local rivers like the Los Angeles River and streams from the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains. Carbonate minerals from distant limestone outcrops and weathered bedrock dissolve into the groundwater over time, elevating calcium and magnesium levels and imparting a hard character typical of basin-fill aquifers in the region.

Very hard water in Lakewood causes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency, increasing energy costs, and shortening appliance life. Soap lathering is poor, often requiring more detergent, and skin dryness may occur from bathing. Maintenance includes regular descaling of fixtures, installing drain strainers, and flushing water heaters annually. A water softener is strongly recommended — many local homeowners opt for this treatment. Aggregator analyses note 2 contaminants above health guidelines with an 80/100 quality score; hardness is not removed by standard treatment processes, making in-home softening the most effective mitigation.

Geology & Source: Central Groundwater Basin, LA coastal plain — Quaternary-Pleistocene alluvial sands and gravels; carbonate minerals from San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountain bedrock dissolve into groundwater, elevating calcium and magnesium for hard supply

Other California Water Reports

Bellflower

270 mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Paramount

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Artesia

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Signal Hill

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

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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 Lakewood's water safe to drink?

Yes. Lakewood's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Lakewood?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Lakewood's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 45%.

How does Lakewood compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Lakewood (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Lakewood 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.