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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Northwood (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Northwood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

mixed

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

412.6 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 Northwood, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Northwood	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 Northwood compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Northwood, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Stonegate, California	282 mg/L	6.1 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	mixed
El Camino Real, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	6.1 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	mixed
Oak Creek, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Woodbridge, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Northwood compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Northwood	≈ 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 Northwood's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: MixedTDS: 412.6 mg/LpH: 8

Northwood is a residential community in Orange County, California, served by the Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD). IRWD draws its supply from two main sources: imported water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and local Irvine Basin groundwater. No dedicated treatment plant or public water system explicitly named for Northwood was identified in utility websites or EPA SDWIS databases; the community receives water through IRWD's regional distribution infrastructure serving much of the Irvine area and surrounding Orange County suburbs.

The MWD import supply is itself a blend of Colorado River water and State Water Project (Feather River) water sourced from northern California. This imported water is supplemented by the Irvine Basin, an alluvial aquifer that contributes local mineral content to the blended supply. The combination of diverse surface imports and local alluvial groundwater produces moderately hard water characteristic of this Orange County suburb.

The blended supply from MWD imports and Irvine Basin alluvial groundwater produces moderately hard water, meaning residents may notice scale buildup on faucets, coffee makers, and dishwashers over time. Soap and detergent efficiency is moderately reduced by mineral content. Point-of-use water softeners or periodic descaling of appliances are practical options for households seeking to minimize mineral deposits and maintain appliance longevity.

Geology & Source: Orange County suburb; Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) blends MWD imports (Colorado River + State Water Project) with Irvine Basin alluvial groundwater — alluvial aquifer minerals and surface imports produce moderately hard water

Other California Water Reports

Stonegate

282 mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

El Camino Real

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Oak Creek

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Woodbridge

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 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 Northwood's water safe to drink?

Yes. Northwood'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 Northwood?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Northwood'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 Northwood compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Northwood (≈ 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 Northwood 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.