Water Quality in Los Angeles What It Means for Your Plumbing System
Water Quality in Los Angeles What It Means for Your Plumbing System
Los Angeles draws its water supply from multiple sources including the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the Colorado River Aqueduct via the Metropolitan Water District, local groundwater, and an increasing percentage of recycled and treated water from local conservation programs. This blended supply has specific characteristics that affect plumbing systems in ways that homeowners are often not fully aware of.The water supplied in most of the Los Angeles area is classified as moderately hard, typically in the range of 250 to 350 parts per million as calcium carbonate. This hardness level causes scale buildup inside water heaters, on faucet aerators and showerheads, and inside supply lines over time. Tankless water heaters are particularly susceptible to scale accumulation in their heat exchangers, which reduces efficiency and can cause premature failure without regular descaling maintenance.The slightly acidic nature of LA's treated water supply contributes to the pinhole corrosion of copper pipe that is commonly found in homes built between the 1950s and 1980s. This corrosion is gradual but progressive, and in older copper installations it can be the source of the slow slab leaks and wall leaks that are a regular occurrence in this era of LA housing.Coast to Coast Plumbing | 3045 Larga Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039 | +13102755800
For plumbing service that accounts for LA's specific water conditions, call Coast to Coast Plumbing at +13102755800. The office is at 3045 Larga Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039.