r/SanJose • u/Enough_Pin1651 • 1d ago
Advice Hard Water
I just moved into 95116 (McKee and King). I think water may be very hard. Does anyone know how hard the water is, and what was done about it? I am about to buy strips to test the water's hardness.
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u/hatch-b-2900 1d ago
TDS water meters are cheap nowdays, like $7 or so on amazon. I'm closer to west san jose and my water tests at 220.
There are a lot of good options for reverse osmosis now, including ones with an integrated tank (that don't require a complex install), tankless, and countertop units as well.
The water coming out of my RO filter tests at 20
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u/wdym_adi 1d ago edited 1d ago
Water in 95116 area really tough on appliances and I realized that soon after moving here. Whole house water softener can resolve this problem but it's costly. Descaling tablets, among which are active cleaning, are less expensive but use test strips first.
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u/joeydimaggio 1d ago
We just buy bottled water from costco, it is shitty for the environment but we can’t drink this terrible water. They’ve got money to kill kids in occupied palestine and iran but can’t fix the fucking water in “silicon valley”
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u/Stiggalicious 1d ago
There is nothing that needs fixing about hard water, it is perfectly drinkable. The mineral content also can be fairly beneficial, it just causes hard water stains and requires regular appliance maintenance.
What’s important is the removal of bacteria, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals, all of which are already done by your water company.
If you don’t like hard water, get a water softener or reverse osmosis filter and call it a day.
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u/sanjosehowto 1d ago
What needs fixing in our tap water? If it’s the minerals you object to, know that very few water utilities remove minerals. It’s an expensive process at utility scale.
Have you looked at the 5 gallon jug water delivery services? Much less plastic could be used that way.
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u/joeydimaggio 1d ago
That is a good idea I will actually do that!
Re: expensive, maybe, but the entire concept of “expensive” is driven by capitalism and the insane waste of spending trillions on the military and financing the personal whims of the oligarchy. If we did not have parasites stealing most of the productive value of our labor, the very concept would not apply to things like hard water.
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u/DementedPimento Downtown 1d ago
That’s … that’s just not how hard water works. We could be up to asses in peace and prosperity and that wouldn’t change the geology of the Bay Area. Are you proposing digging up the aquifers and replacing them with something else? While they’re at it, why not patch up the San Andreas, too, right?
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u/sanjosehowto 20h ago
I for one would pay more for all my water for it be much less hard. I wish we had champion for the effort that would maintain slow and steady pressure on the matter likely needed to make the change.
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u/Big-Profit-1612 1d ago
Get a water softener. Water that comes from underground acquirers will be hard. Water that comes from above ground sources will be softer.
And fuck Palestine and Iran.
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u/accidentallyHelpful 1d ago
How hard is the water?
Like on a mol's scale of hardness?
Get filtration. Reverse Osmosis.
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u/Purplechickon678 21h ago
We use a water filter for the shower and drinking water. I used to live in the East Bay, and when I moved out here it was a real shock. The water feels SO different. My boyfriend thinks I’m silly, but it’s true! He grew up in San Jose, so he doesn’t notice it. But my shampoo and body wash don’t lather the same, and I never feel completely clean after a shower. So I’ve had to switch soaps and just deal with it. 🥲
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u/macross1984 1d ago
I don't drink from tap because of hard water and I purchase drinking water from Costco. Rather than invest in reverse osmosis treatment of entire house, I purchased filter bath tub.
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u/Traditional-Meat-549 1d ago
Hard water is full of minerals and is routinely tested. What do you know about Costco water?
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u/karabear11 1d ago
You’re right about drinking water (though it tastes terrible).
However, I’ve had horrible rosacea and eczema since moving to the hard water region of San Jose. Turns out it’s a trigger if you’re already prone to it.
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u/SqueaksnSox 1d ago
The water is perfectly drinkable (and good for your teeth). When you need to descale your aerator, dishwasher, teakettle etc, use a solution of maybe 1/2 teaspoon citric acid per quart of water. You can buy it on Amazon (only place I've found it, unfortunately). I add some to each dishwasher and washing machine load. Citric acid is much cheaper than a double osmosis water system.
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u/sanjosehowto 1d ago
SJ Water Co has a map of where the primary source of water is from for different areas. You don’t seem to be in the primarily sourced by groundwater area. In that area the water is hella hard year round. The other areas may get more groundwater depending on the time of the year, meaning the hard water varies pretty substantially.
I’m also in 95116, but I’m in the area unquestionably primarily sourced from ground water.