Seaside Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.8 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
436.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
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 Seaside, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Seaside | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -46% |
| Washing Machine | 8 yrs | 12 yrs | -33% |
| Water Heater | 9.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -36% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Seaside compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Seaside, California | 150.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Monterey, California | 41.5 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Pacific Grove, California | 99.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Marina, California | 124 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Salinas, California | 134 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Seaside compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Seaside | 150.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Seaside's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Seaside, California, in Monterey County — a major Monterey Peninsula community (Seaside is one of the primary cities on the Monterey Peninsula — directly adjacent to Monterey and neighboring the renowned 17-Mile Drive and Carmel-by-the-Sea corridor; Seaside has historically been the most racially and economically diverse community on the Monterey Peninsula), home of California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB — a California State University campus established on the former Fort Ord military base, providing access to higher education in the Monterey Bay region), a diverse Monterey County community with a significant African-American, Hispanic-American, and Filipino-American population (Seaside's diversity reflects the military demographic of the former Fort Ord — now partially CSUMB), and one of the most affordable cities on the Monterey Peninsula — draws its municipal water supply via California American Water. Water hardness in Seaside measures 150.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
Seaside's hard supply reflects the Monterey Peninsula's mixed supply characteristics. The California American Water Monterey District draws from: the Carmel River (calcareous-poor Santa Lucia Mountains drainage); and the Seaside Groundwater Basin (Quaternary calcareous-moderate alluvial aquifer with some evaporite influence). The blend produces the hard 150.5 mg/L.
At 150.5 mg/L, Seaside residents face regular hard water challenges. Monthly descaling with citric acid solution is recommended. California American Water consistently delivers water meeting all California DDW and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from the Carmel River and Seaside Groundwater Basin via the California American Water (Cal-Am) — the Monterey County central California Monterey Peninsula (Santa Lucia Mountains calcareous-poor Franciscan Assemblage and Quaternary calcareous-moderate Seaside Groundwater Basin alluvium — the Monterey Peninsula Cal-Am mixed supply); hard supply at 150.5 mg/L in Monterey County.