How does Valley Glen's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Valley Glen (106.5 mg/L) is 44 mg/L softer than average.

Valley Glen Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

106.5mg/L

Moderately Hard

6.2 grains per gallon

Source

mixed

pH Level

7.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

271.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.28

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

106.5mg/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 Valley Glen, your appliances are currently losing 14% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Valley Glen	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.3 yrs	8.5 yrs	-14%
Washing Machine	10.3 yrs	12 yrs	-14%
Water Heater	12.9 yrs	15 yrs	-14%

Regional Water Comparison

How Valley Glen compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Valley Glen, California	106.5 mg/L	5 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	mixed
Van Nuys, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
North Hollywood, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Studio City, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Sherman Oaks, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed

National Benchmark

How Valley Glen compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Valley Glen	106.5 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Valley Glen's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: MixedTDS: 271.2 mg/LpH: 7.7

Valley Glen, located in Los Angeles County, California, does not operate its own water utility. The community is served by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the municipal water provider for the City of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. LADWP's water supply is derived from two primary sources: the Colorado River, delivered via the Colorado River Aqueduct, and local groundwater from the Los Angeles Basin aquifer system. Treatment occurs at multiple LADWP facilities before distribution to customers.

The Los Angeles Basin's geology consists of Quaternary alluvial deposits — sand, silt, and gravel laid down by ancient rivers — overlying Tertiary marine sediments and older crystalline basement rocks. These alluvial aquifers contain dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium, which contribute to water hardness. Imported Colorado River water is generally softer than local groundwater, and LADWP blends these sources to optimize water quality across its distribution network.

Water hardness in Valley Glen varies depending on the proportion of Colorado River water to local groundwater in the distribution network at any given time. Residents receiving more local groundwater may notice scale buildup on fixtures, reduced soap lathering, and potential impacts on water heaters and appliances. A water softener may be beneficial for households experiencing noticeable hardness effects. LADWP complies with all primary drinking water standards and publishes an annual Drinking Water Quality Report, monitoring contaminants including lead and copper.

Geology & Source: Los Angeles Basin — Quaternary alluvial deposits overlying Tertiary marine sediments and older basement rocks; mineral-rich alluvial aquifers make local groundwater harder than imported Colorado River water

Other California Water Reports

Van Nuys

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

North Hollywood

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Studio City

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Sherman Oaks

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

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 Valley Glen's water safe to drink?

Yes. Valley Glen's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 106.5 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 Valley Glen?

Valley Glen's water is moderately hard at 106.5 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Valley Glen compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Valley Glen (106.5 mg/L) is 44 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 Valley Glen 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.