Tustin Legacy Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.6 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
414.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.39
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 Tustin Legacy, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Tustin Legacy | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -44% |
| Washing Machine | 8.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -32% |
| Water Heater | 9.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -35% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Tustin Legacy compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Tustin Legacy, California | 146.5 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Westpark, California | 145 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Irvine, California | 103.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Woodbridge, California | 145 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Tustin, California | 134 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Tustin Legacy compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Tustin Legacy | 146.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Tustin Legacy's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Tustin Legacy, California, in Orange County — a major new urban development built on the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin (decommissioned in 1999), one of Southern California's most ambitious military base reuse projects, featuring residential, commercial, and open space components on the historic Tustin airfield site with its iconic World War II blimp hangars — receives its municipal water from the Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) or the Tustin Water Services, drawing from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) import through the Colorado River Aqueduct and the Orange County Groundwater Basin managed by the Orange County Water District (OCWD).
The moderately hard 146.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 414.7 mg/L reflect the Orange County blended supply's character. The Orange County Groundwater Basin (the Main San Gabriel Valley Basin's southern extent and the North Orange County alluvial basin) accesses Pleistocene alluvial fan deposits from the San Ana Mountains and the Puente Hills — granitic and shale-derived alluvial terrain with moderate dissolved mineral content. MWD's Colorado River Aqueduct supply carries harder, higher-TDS Colorado Plateau water. OCWD's Groundwater Replenishment System blends recycled water with MWD import and manages basin recharge, producing a consistent moderately hard supply throughout the Tustin IRWD service territory.
At 146.5 mg/L, Tustin Legacy's water is moderately hard — consistent with the central Orange County supply profile. Scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling of heating appliances is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.1 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin's firefighting foam (AFFF) PFAS contamination is a direct, known soil and groundwater source affecting the Tustin Legacy development site, and OCWD actively monitors and manages PFAS in the Orange County groundwater basin.
Geology & Source: Tustin Legacy in Orange County is served by the Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) drawing from Metropolitan Water District (MWD) import and the Orange County Groundwater Basin — MWD's Colorado River Aqueduct blend and the Orange County Basin (Pleistocene alluvial aquifer over Cretaceous marine sands) contribute moderate hardness — blended supply produces moderately hard water at 146.5 mg/L with TDS 415 mg/L in this Orange County master-planned development.