How does Sierra Madre's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Sierra Madre (85.5 mg/L) is 65 mg/L softer than average.

Sierra Madre Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

85.5mg/L

Moderately Hard

5 grains per gallon

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

204.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.23

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

85.5mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

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 Sierra Madre, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Sierra Madre	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.6 yrs	8.5 yrs	-11%
Washing Machine	10.7 yrs	12 yrs	-11%
Water Heater	13.4 yrs	15 yrs	-11%

Regional Water Comparison

How Sierra Madre compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Sierra Madre, California	85.5 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Arcadia, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	29.2 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Temple City, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Monrovia, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	62.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
San Marino, California	140 mg/L	3.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Sierra Madre compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Sierra Madre	85.5 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Sierra Madre's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 204.2 mg/LpH: 7.6

Sierra Madre, California, in Los Angeles County — a Los Angeles County city adjacent to Arcadia and Monrovia at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Gabriel Valley — receives its water from the City of Sierra Madre Public Works or San Gabriel Valley Water, drawing from the San Gabriel watershed and local wells through the south-central California distribution.

The soft 85.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 204.2 mg/L reflect the Los Angeles County San Gabriel supply's soft character — the Cretaceous San Gabriel Granodiorite is highly insoluble, and Quaternary San Gabriel Valley alluvium contributes modest calcareous mineral content from its marine sediment and limestone clast heritage (compare Arcadia CA: 83/198 in Los Angeles County comparable; Monrovia CA: 87/210 in Los Angeles County comparable; Sierra Madre consistent soft from the same Los Angeles County San Gabriel watershed granitic supply). The San Gabriel watershed — Cretaceous San Gabriel Granodiorite (insoluble — primary dilutant), Quaternary San Gabriel Valley alluvium (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Bay Area alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).

At 85.5 mg/L with TDS 204, Sierra Madre's water is soft — minimal scale buildup. Annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 4.4 ppt is moderate and well-managed for the San Gabriel Valley. Review the City of Sierra Madre's annual water quality report.

Geology & Source: Sierra Madre in Los Angeles County draws from the Sierra Madre Water on the San Gabriel watershed (Los Angeles County, south California) — the San Gabriel drains Cretaceous San Gabriel Granodiorite (insoluble) and Quaternary San Gabriel Valley alluvium (calcareous) — California Los Angeles County San Gabriel watershed granitic supply produces soft water at 85.5 mg/L with TDS 204.2 mg/L.

Other California Water Reports

Arcadia

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Temple City

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Monrovia

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

San Marino

140 mg/L

🟠 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 Sierra Madre's water safe to drink?

Yes. Sierra Madre's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 85.5 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Sierra Madre?

Sierra Madre's water is moderately hard at 85.5 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Sierra Madre compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Sierra Madre (85.5 mg/L) is 65 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 Sierra Madre 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.