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

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

Roseville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

413.8 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 Roseville, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Roseville	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 Roseville compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Roseville, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Citrus Heights, California	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Antelope, California	105 mg/L	5.7 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	mixed
Rocklin, California	60 mg/L	5.2 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	groundwater
Orangevale, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Roseville compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 413.8 mg/LpH: 8

City of Roseville Environmental Utilities Department supplies drinking water to over 150,000 residents in Roseville, California, across Placer and Sacramento Counties in the Sacramento metropolitan area. Primary supply is surface water from Folsom Lake via long-term contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, supplemented by purchases from Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) and San Juan Water District. Groundwater wells provide backup, enhanced by Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR) technology with up to 12 wells targeting 10,000 acre-feet annual injection. Treatment uses coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, pH adjustment, and fluoride addition; West Placer systems, including American Water's, purchase treated water from Roseville or PCWA.

The watershed encompasses the American River basin upstream of Folsom Lake, draining granitic and metavolcanic terrains of the Sierra Nevada. Folsom Lake captures snowmelt and rainfall runoff through granodiorite, amphibolite, and greenstone formations of Mesozoic age, leaching minerals into the water. Local geology features thick Quaternary alluvium in the Sacramento Valley, with groundwater from confined aquifers in Tertiary-age sedimentary rocks; ASR blending with stored surface water maintains consistent chemistry while this Sierra-derived geology imparts a hard supply character rich in dissolved minerals from prolonged contact with mineralized bedrock.

Hard water promotes scale buildup in pipes, heaters, and fixtures, reducing efficiency and lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers; dry skin, soap scum, and dish spotting are common household effects. Regular deliming, drain screens, and vinegar soaks help mitigate buildup; a water softener is recommended to prevent mineral accumulation, extend equipment life, and lower energy costs. Roseville meets all state and federal standards; fluoride is adjusted to 0.7 ppm for dental health. Independent testing flags arsenic above health guidelines from natural soil and bedrock sources and legacy orchard activities; pH is controlled for corrosion prevention and lead/copper rule compliance is affirmed.

Geology & Source: American River watershed — Folsom Lake impounds Sierra Nevada snowmelt through Mesozoic granodiorite and metavolcanic terrain; Pleistocene alluvial deposits and Cosumnes-Mokelumne Aquifer; ASR blending; hard supply from granitic mineral leaching

Other California Water Reports

Citrus Heights

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Antelope

105 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Rocklin

60 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Orangevale

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

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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 Roseville's water safe to drink?

Yes. Roseville'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 Roseville?

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

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