Pinole Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.4 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
286.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.29
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 Pinole, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Pinole | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -29% |
| Washing Machine | 9.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -21% |
| Water Heater | 11.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -25% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Pinole compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Pinole, California | 110 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Hercules, California | 50.5 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| El Sobrante, California | 35 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| San Pablo, California | 46 mg/L | 3.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Richmond, California | 51.5 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Pinole compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Pinole | 110 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Pinole's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Pinole, California, in Contra Costa County — a Contra Costa County city on San Pablo Bay adjacent to Hercules and El Sobrante, a North Bay shoreline community in the west Contra Costa County industrial-suburban corridor — receives its municipal water from the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), drawing from the Mokelumne River (Pardee Reservoir, Sierra Nevada) blended with local San Pablo Reservoir water (Wildcat Creek, west Contra Costa County Coast Range watershed).
The moderately hard 110 mg/L hardness and TDS of 286.6 mg/L are harder than Orinda (51 mg/L, TDS 111) — indicating Pinole's EBMUD supply has a higher proportion of local San Pablo Reservoir water (west Contra Costa Coast Range watershed) blended with the softer Mokelumne import. The San Pablo Reservoir watershed drains the Coast Range Franciscan Complex (with some calcareous serpentinite and metasediment — somewhat harder than the pure Sierra Nevada granite) and local Contra Costa valley alluvial runoff — producing a harder local contribution that raises the blend above the pure EBMUD Mokelumne supply.
At 110 mg/L, Pinole's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Hercules Chemical corridor (west Contra Costa County — historic explosives and chemical manufacturing, PFAS-class legacy), Point Molate (former US Navy fuel depot), and the San Pablo Bay industrial PFAS complex contribute to Pinole's readings.
Geology & Source: Pinole in Contra Costa County draws from East Bay MUD (EBMUD) on the Mokelumne River (Pardee Reservoir) blended with San Pablo Reservoir (west Contra Costa watershed) — the Mokelumne drains the Sierra Nevada granite; San Pablo Reservoir drains the Coast Range Franciscan Complex — Sierra Nevada-Coast Range blend produces moderately hard water at 110 mg/L with TDS 287 mg/L in this Contra Costa County California city.