Sun City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.4 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
619.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.52
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 Sun City, your appliances are currently losing 26% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Sun City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -62% |
| Washing Machine | 6.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -47% |
| Water Heater | 7.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -48% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Sun City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sun City, California | 195 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Menifee, California | 74 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Perris, California | 50 mg/L | 3.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Lake Elsinore, California | 76 mg/L | 4.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Wildomar, California | 133.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Sun City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sun City | 195 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Sun City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Sun City, California, in Riverside County — a Riverside County unincorporated retirement and residential community adjacent to Menifee in the Menifee Valley, part of the Inland Empire southwest Riverside County corridor — receives its municipal water from the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), which draws from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Colorado River Aqueduct import and local Menifee Basin groundwater wells.
The moderately hard 195 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 619.9 mg/L reflect Sun City's dependence on Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) import blended with local hard Menifee Valley groundwater. The Colorado River Aqueduct delivers moderately hard (200-300 mg/L) water from the Colorado River's Havasu intake — the Colorado River in Havasu drains the Permian and Triassic evaporite and carbonate terrain of the Colorado Plateau and Grand Canyon. The Menifee Basin alluvial aquifer in southwest Riverside County contains older, more mineral-rich groundwater from the Menifee Valley's Pleistocene alluvial fans and terrace deposits, contributing elevated TDS. The combined hard, high-TDS supply is characteristic of inland Riverside County communities.
At 195 mg/L with TDS 620 mg/L, Sun City's water is moderately hard with high TDS. A water softener is recommended and kitchen reverse osmosis filtration is advisable given the TDS. The PFAS level of 7.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — March Air Reserve Base (Moreno Valley, Riverside County — a major documented AFFF-using base), the Colorado River PFAS legacy (agriculture and industrial sources in the Colorado River corridor), and the Inland Empire defense-aerospace complex contribute to Sun City's PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Sun City in Riverside County draws from Eastern Municipal Water District on Colorado River Aqueduct (MWD) and local Menifee Basin groundwater (Pleistocene alluvial fan aquifer) — the CRA delivers hard Colorado River water; Menifee Valley alluvial wells add additional dissolved minerals — Colorado River Aqueduct and Menifee alluvial groundwater blend produces moderately hard water at 195 mg/L with high TDS 620 mg/L in this Riverside County California community.