North Hollywood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

mixed

pH Level

7.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

221.4 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 North Hollywood, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In North Hollywood	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How North Hollywood compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ North Hollywood, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Studio City, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Universal City, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	7 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	mixed
Valley Glen, California	106.5 mg/L	5 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	mixed
Burbank, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	73.4 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How North Hollywood compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ North Hollywood	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes North Hollywood's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: MixedTDS: 221.4 mg/LpH: 7.6

North Hollywood is served by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the primary water utility for the area in Los Angeles County. Water sources include the Los Angeles Aqueduct drawing from Eastern Sierra reservoirs, local groundwater wells within the San Fernando Valley aquifer system, and supplemental supplies from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which delivers Colorado River water. The LADWP operates multiple treatment plants and maintains approximately 300 water quality monitoring locations to ensure compliance with EPA and California State Water Resources Control Board standards.

The San Fernando Valley aquifer underlying North Hollywood consists primarily of Quaternary alluvial deposits — sand, gravel, and silt — interlayered with Tertiary marine sediments and older consolidated rocks. The watershed encompasses the Los Angeles River basin, recharged by local precipitation and imported surface water. Carbonate-bearing formations and mineral-rich sedimentary layers in the aquifer, combined with mineral-laden Colorado River water delivered by the Metropolitan Water District, produce a hard supply with elevated dissolved calcium and magnesium.

North Hollywood residents experience hard water that causes scale buildup on fixtures, showerheads, pipes, and inside water heaters, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters are particularly vulnerable to mineral deposits, which can necessitate descaling or premature replacement. Soap and detergent effectiveness is reduced, requiring higher product quantities. Many residents opt for point-of-use or whole-house water softeners to mitigate these effects and extend appliance life. Regular flushing of water heaters and periodic cleaning of aerators are recommended. LADWP testing confirms tap water meets all federal and state drinking water standards, with an annual Drinking Water Quality Report published detailing contaminant analyses, pH, and compliance data.

Geology & Source: San Fernando Valley aquifer — Pliocene-Pleistocene alluvial sand, gravel, and clay over Tertiary marine sediments; blended with Colorado River and Los Angeles Aqueduct imports; carbonate minerals produce a hard supply

Other California Water Reports

Studio City

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Universal City

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Valley Glen

106.5 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Burbank

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Report an Issue

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 North Hollywood's water safe to drink?

Yes. North Hollywood's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in North Hollywood?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), North Hollywood'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 20%.

How does North Hollywood compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. North Hollywood (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for North Hollywood 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.