Los Gatos Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.5 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
483.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.43
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 Los Gatos, your appliances are currently losing 22% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Los Gatos | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -49% |
| Washing Machine | 7.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -37% |
| Water Heater | 9.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -39% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Los Gatos compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Los Gatos, California | 162 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Saratoga, California | 109 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Campbell, California | 80.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Cupertino, California | 62 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Santa Clara, California | 79 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Los Gatos compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Los Gatos | 162 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Los Gatos's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Los Gatos, California, in Santa Clara County — a major south Silicon Valley affluent community (Los Gatos is one of the most desirable and expensive communities in Silicon Valley — a Santa Clara County town at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains above the south San Jose corridor; Los Gatos is known for its charming downtown (one of the most attractive small-town downtowns in Silicon Valley — with boutique shops, excellent restaurants, and a vibrant pedestrian-scale street life), extremely high real estate values, and proximity to Apple, Netflix, and other major technology companies), home of Netflix's original headquarters (Netflix was founded in Los Gatos and maintained its headquarters there for many years — the iconic Los Gatos Netflix campus was the birthplace of the streaming revolution that transformed global entertainment), a diverse Santa Clara County community with a highly affluent technology executive, venture capitalist, and professional population, adjacent to Vasona Lake County Park (one of the most popular recreation areas in south Santa Clara Valley), and one of the most exclusive Silicon Valley communities — draws its municipal water supply via the San Jose Water Company. Water hardness in Los Gatos measures 162 mg/L — classified as hard.
Los Gatos's hard supply reflects the south Santa Clara Valley SCVWD supply's calcareous-moderate character with distribution variation. The SCVWD distributes State Water Project and Lexington Reservoir supply to the south Santa Clara Valley Los Gatos zone, producing the hard 162 mg/L.
At 162 mg/L, Los Gatos residents face regular hard water challenges. Monthly descaling is recommended. San Jose Water Company consistently delivers water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD — State Water Project and local reservoirs) via the San Jose Water Company — the Santa Clara County south Silicon Valley Los Gatos foothills corridor (Miocene calcareous-moderate Monterey Formation shale and Santa Cruz Mountains limestone — the calcareous-moderate south Santa Clara Valley SCVWD supply blend; effective treatment); hard supply at 162 mg/L in Santa Clara County.