San Pablo Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2.7 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
98.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.12
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 San Pablo, your appliances are currently losing 6% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In San Pablo | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -5% |
| Washing Machine | 11.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -1% |
| Water Heater | 13.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -8% |
Regional Water Comparison
How San Pablo compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ San Pablo, California | 46 mg/L | 3.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Richmond, California | 51.5 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| El Sobrante, California | 35 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| El Cerrito, California | 182.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Pinole, California | 110 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How San Pablo compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ San Pablo | 46 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes San Pablo's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
San Pablo, California, in Contra Costa County — a major west Contra Costa Bay Area community (San Pablo is a significant Contra Costa County city — a west East Bay community adjacent to Richmond and El Cerrito, one of the most diverse and affordable Bay Area communities; San Pablo is primarily known as a diverse, working-class Bay Area community that serves as home to a significant Latino-American and African-American population, and has one of the lowest median household incomes in the East Bay), home of the San Pablo Bay waterfront (San Pablo is adjacent to the San Pablo Bay — the northern arm of San Francisco Bay), a diverse Contra Costa County community with a significant Mexican-American, Central American, and African-American population, adjacent to Richmond in the west Contra Costa industrial corridor, and a Bay Area community with significant access to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) at adjacent El Cerrito — draws its municipal water supply via EBMUD. Water hardness in San Pablo measures 46 mg/L — classified as very soft.
San Pablo's very soft supply reflects the west East Bay EBMUD Mokelumne supply's calcareous-poor Sierra Nevada character. The EBMUD distributes Mokelumne River Aqueduct supply (from Sierra Nevada granite — calcareous-poor) to the west East Bay San Pablo zone, producing the very soft 46 mg/L.
With hardness at 46 mg/L, San Pablo residents enjoy very soft water. EBMUD consistently delivers water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Imported supply from the Mokelumne River (East Bay MUD) via the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) — the Contra Costa County west East Bay San Pablo corridor (Sierra Nevada calcareous-poor granite and metamorphic — the extremely calcareous-poor Sierra Nevada Mokelumne watershed; EBMUD effective treatment producing very soft supply); very soft supply at 46 mg/L in Contra Costa County.