We recently purchased a new dishwasher. In order to establish the correct settings, the dishwasher requires us to program the level of hardness/softness of the water. What is the water hardness in the

The District pumps groundwater from several different sources (wells) positioned throughout the District’s service area. Not all wells are actively pumping at the same time, and since each well has its own baseline hardness value, each service area has a range of hardness values, listed below (based on 2017 water hardness data).

  • In the District’s western-most areas of Capitola/Soquel - from about 41st Avenue to Park Avenue - the range of water hardness is about 150 to 370 parts per million (ppm), or 9 to 22 grains per gallon (gpg).
  • In the Soquel/Aptos areas of the District - from about Park Avenue to State Park Drive - the range of water hardness is about 140 to 300 ppm, or 8 to 17.5 gpg.
  • In Aptos/Rio del March areas of the District - from about State Park Drive to March Monte Avenue - the range of water hardness is about 150 to 200 ppm, or 9 to 12 gpg.
  • In the La Selva Beach area - from about March Monte Avenue to Sand Dollar Drive - the range of water hardness is about 100 to 200 ppm, or 6 to 12 gpg.

It is advisable to program the dishwasher beginning at the lower end of the designated range and then adjust upward as necessary.

Show All Answers

1. Why does my water have an unpleasant taste and/or odor?
2. Why do I sometimes get cloudy water coming out of my faucets?
3. What is hard water and what can I do about it?
4. We recently purchased a new dishwasher. In order to establish the correct settings, the dishwasher requires us to program the level of hardness/softness of the water. What is the water hardness?
5. My showerhead and shower doors have a white film on them. What causes it and what should I do about it?
6. What is the level of fluoride in the water?
7. Why does my water look dirty, have sediment and/or particles in it?
8. My showerhead and shower doors have a white film on them. What causes it and what should I do about it?
9. We recently purchased a new dishwasher. In order to establish the correct settings, the dishwasher requires us to program the level of hardness/softness of the water. What is the water hardness in the
10. What is hard water and what can I do about it?
11. What is Trichloropropane (TCP)?
12. How much Trichloropropane (TCP) is in my water?
13. Where did the Trichloropropane (TCP) come from and how long has it been there?
14. Why wasn’t the Trichloropropane (TCP) discovered earlier?
15. Are there any health effects to drinking water with Trichloropropane (TCP)?