Mountain View Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.6 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
294.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.30
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 Mountain View, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Mountain View | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -31% |
| Washing Machine | 9.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -22% |
| Water Heater | 11.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -26% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Mountain View compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mountain View, California | 112.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Los Altos, California | 150.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Sunnyvale, California | 35.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Palo Alto, California | 119 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Cupertino, California | 62 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Mountain View compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mountain View | 112.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Mountain View's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Mountain View, California — Silicon Valley city in Santa Clara County on the San Francisco Bay (home of Google headquarters and Shoreline Amphitheatre) — draws its municipal water supply from the City of Mountain View Water Division, sourcing from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct (Tuolumne River–origin, Sierra Nevada granodiorite watershed — very soft) and local Santa Clara Valley groundwater managed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD). Water hardness in Mountain View measures 112.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Mountain View's moderately hard supply reflects the blending of very soft SFPUC Hetch Hetchy water with significantly harder Santa Clara Valley groundwater. The Santa Clara Valley Basin alluvial aquifer underlying Mountain View and northern Santa Clara County is recharged by multiple valley-fringe streams from the Diablo Range (Franciscan Complex — greenschist with calcium-bearing serpentinite) and the Santa Cruz Mountains (Butano Sandstone, Santa Cruz Mudstone — siliceous), producing moderately mineralized local groundwater. The SCVWD groundwater fraction in the Mountain View distribution, blended with the very soft SFPUC Hetch Hetchy component, results in the 112.5 mg/L moderate hardness — higher than San Francisco (75 mg/L) on the same Hetch Hetchy source.
At 112.5 mg/L, Mountain View residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning is practical maintenance. City of Mountain View Water Division and SCVWD consistently deliver water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct (SFPUC) and Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) local groundwater via the City of Mountain View Water Division — the Santa Clara Valley alluvial basin and SFPUC Tuolumne River Sierra Nevada granodiorite source water; moderately hard supply at 112.5 mg/L in Santa Clara County on the San Francisco Bay.