Olivehurst Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.1 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
604.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.51
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 Olivehurst, your appliances are currently losing 25% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Olivehurst | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -61% |
| Washing Machine | 6.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -45% |
| Water Heater | 8 yrs | 15 yrs | -47% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Olivehurst compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Olivehurst, California | 190 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Linda, California | 36 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Yuba City, California | 75.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| South Yuba City, California | 58.5 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Lincoln, California | 191 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Olivehurst compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Olivehurst | 190 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Olivehurst's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Olivehurst, California, in Yuba County — a Yuba County community adjacent to Marysville and Linda in the north California Sacramento Valley — receives its water from the Olivehurst Public Utility District, drawing from the Feather River or Yuba River (Yuba County) through the north California distribution.
The hard 190 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 604.5 mg/L are surprisingly hard for a Sierra Nevada foothill community — significantly harder than Auburn CA (35 mg/L) drawing from the same American River Sierra Nevada supply. The elevated hardness likely reflects groundwater blending from the Sacramento Valley alluvial aquifer — the Sacramento Valley at Yuba County position contains Pleistocene calcareous and evaporitic deposits from ancient lake sediments, contributing significant additional hardness and TDS. The Olivehurst supply — Sacramento Valley Pleistocene Modesto Formation (calcareous-evaporitic — primary hardness contributor from local groundwater blend), Feather-Yuba River Sierra Nevada granite (insoluble — dilutant), and Quaternary Sacramento Valley alluvium (calcareous — secondary contributor).
At 190 mg/L with TDS 604, Olivehurst's water is hard. A water softener is recommended to prevent scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 7.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Beale Air Force Base (Yuba County — AFFF, adjacent) is the primary contributor to Olivehurst's very elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Olivehurst in Yuba County draws from the Olivehurst Public Utility District on the Feather River or Yuba River (Yuba County, north California) — the Feather and Yuba Rivers drain the Sierra Nevada (Cretaceous granite — insoluble) with Quaternary Sacramento Valley alluvial dissolution — California Yuba County Feather-Yuba River Sierra Nevada-Valley alluvial blend produces hard water at 190 mg/L with TDS 604.5 mg/L.