Vacaville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
72 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.09
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 Vacaville, your appliances are currently losing 5% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Vacaville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -1% |
| Washing Machine | 12.3 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -5% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Vacaville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Vacaville, California | 35 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Fairfield, California | 127.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Suisun, California | 171.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Dixon, California | 35.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Napa, California | 151.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Vacaville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Vacaville | 35 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Vacaville home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Vacaville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Vacaville, California, in Solano County between Sacramento and San Francisco, draws its municipal water supply through the City of Vacaville Water Division, sourcing primarily from Putah Creek via Lake Solano — a regulating reservoir on Putah Creek downstream of Monticello Dam (Lake Berryessa) in Napa County. The Solano Irrigation District (SID) delivers Putah Creek water to Vacaville through the Solano Project canals. Vacaville also draws from California Department of Water Resources State Water Project allocations. Water hardness measures 35 mg/L — classified as very soft.
Vacaville's exceptionally soft supply reflects the geology of the Putah Creek watershed in Napa and Yolo Counties. Putah Creek originates in the Mayacamas Mountains and Vaca Mountains — the Coast Ranges between Napa and Lake County — and is impounded in Lake Berryessa. The Putah Creek watershed drains: the Jurassic–Cretaceous Franciscan Complex (chert, greywacke, serpentinite — essentially free of soluble calcium) and the Knoxville Formation marine sedimentary sequences, plus limited Pliocene Tehama Formation volcanic-derived alluvium. The Franciscan-dominated Mayacamas Mountains produce inherently very soft runoff. The Napa–Solano Coast Range terrain is dominated by low-calcium oceanic terrane, yielding one of the softest municipal water supplies in the California Bay Area.
With hardness at 35 mg/L, Vacaville residents enjoy very soft water with essentially no scale challenges. Soap lathers very well. Faucet aerators and showerheads never develop calcium deposits. Dishwashers produce spotless glassware. City of Vacaville Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from Putah Creek (Lake Solano, Monticello Dam) via the City of Vacaville Water Division and the Solano Irrigation District (SID) — the Putah Creek drains the Cache Creek Quaternary volcanic mudflow deposits, Pliocene–Pleistocene Tehama Formation, and minor Lake Berryessa calcareous Coast Range formations; very soft supply at 35 mg/L from the Napa Range–Sierra drainage blend.