Poway Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2.8 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
101 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.13
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 Poway, your appliances are currently losing 6% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Poway | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -6% |
| Washing Machine | 11.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -2% |
| Water Heater | 13.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -9% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Poway compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Poway, California | 48 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Rancho Penasquitos, California | 133.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Mira Mesa, California | 156.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Santee, California | 111.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Lakeside, California | 94.5 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Poway compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Poway | 48 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Poway's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Poway, California, in San Diego County — the 'City in the Country,' a planned master community in the inland San Diego north suburbs known for its horse trails, rural character, and equestrian facilities, home of Poway Unified School District (consistently one of the highest-performing large school districts in California) — draws its municipal water supply from Metropolitan Water District (MWD) imports and local Lake Poway watershed via the City of Poway Water Division. Water hardness in Poway measures 48 mg/L — classified as very soft.
Poway's very soft supply — dramatically softer than most San Diego County communities on MWD import — reflects Poway's unusual combination of local watershed blending and the City's water treatment approach. Poway's Lake Poway watershed drains the Peninsular Ranges Granodiorite (Cretaceous Woodson Mountain Granodiorite of the Poway area — California Batholith calcium-poor granodiorite) — contributing extremely soft local water. The City of Poway blends this very soft local granodiorite watershed supply with MWD import through its Clearwell treatment plant, and Poway's modern master-planned distribution infrastructure (city developed primarily in the 1970s–1990s) adds minimal accumulated hardness, producing the very soft 48 mg/L — one of the softest supplies in inland San Diego County.
With hardness at 48 mg/L, Poway residents enjoy very soft water for a San Diego County community. City of Poway Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) MWD import and local Lake Poway watershed via the City of Poway Water Division — the San Diego County inland Poway–Bernardo Valley (Peninsular Ranges Granodiorite and the local Lake Poway watershed); very soft supply at 48 mg/L — reflecting the SDCWA's advanced treatment and local granodiorite watershed blending.