Ventura Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.7 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
188.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.21
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 Ventura, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Ventura | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -18% |
| Washing Machine | 10.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -12% |
| Water Heater | 12.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -17% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Ventura compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ventura, California | 80 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Oxnard, California | 87 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Port Hueneme, California | 187 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Santa Paula, California | 97 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Carpinteria, California | 130 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Ventura compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ventura | 80 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Ventura home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Ventura's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Ventura (San Buenaventura), California, a coastal city in Ventura County, draws its municipal water supply through the City of San Buenaventura (Ventura) Water Division, sourcing from Lake Casitas — a Bureau of Reclamation reservoir on Coyote Creek (Santa Ynez River tributary) in Ventura County, operated by the Casitas Municipal Water District — and from the Calleguas Municipal Water District (CMWD) regional system delivering MWD water (State Water Project and Colorado River blend) to Ventura County. The Casitas watershed in the Santa Ynez Mountains is a major protected water supply catchment. Water hardness measures 80 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Ventura's moderately soft supply reflects the coastal Santa Ynez Mountains watershed geology of Lake Casitas. The Lake Casitas–Coyote Creek watershed drains the Santa Ynez Mountains and Transverse Range in Ventura County — underlain by the Cretaceous Matilija Formation (arkosic sandstone and shale), Eocene Coldwater Formation (sandstone and conglomerate), and Miocene Monterey Formation (siliceous shale and diatomite). These Coast Range sedimentary formations are predominantly siliceous with minimal carbonate content, producing moderately soft coastal watershed supply. The Calleguas/MWD import fraction adds moderate minerals from Colorado River and SWP sources, blended with the softer Casitas fraction.
With hardness at 80 mg/L, Ventura residents experience minimal to moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits slowly — bi-monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is sufficient. Dishwashers produce clean glassware with light rinse-aid use. City of San Buenaventura Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all California SWRCB and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from the Ventura River watershed (Lake Casitas — Coyote Creek) and Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Calleguas Municipal Water District imports via the City of San Buenaventura Water Division — the Santa Ynez Range Cretaceous Matilija Formation sandstone and Eocene Coldwater Formation watershed and MWD SWP/Colorado blend; moderately soft supply at 80 mg/L on the Ventura coast.