Free Water Test & Water Analysis - Know What’s in Your Tap

What a Free Water Test Measures

• Hardness (GPG or mg/L): The dissolved calcium and magnesium concentration. Determines whether a water softener is appropriate and what capacity is needed. Utility averages are not reliable for softener sizing — hardness varies seasonally and by distribution zone.
• Chloramine or chlorine (ppm): Identifies the disinfectant your utility uses. Critical for specifying the correct filter media — catalytic carbon for chloramine, standard activated carbon for chlorine.
• pH: Affects the corrosivity of water on pipe materials and fixtures. Low pH accelerates copper pipe corrosion. High pH indicates scale-forming tendency.
• Total dissolved solids (TDS ppm): A measure of all dissolved material in the water, including minerals and treatment chemicals. High TDS may indicate the water is appropriate for reverse osmosis treatment.

Water Utilities Across the Service Area

• LADWP: Blended supply from Owens Valley aqueduct, Metropolitan Water District imported water, and local groundwater. Predominantly chloramine. Hardness varies by season and distribution zone.
• Calleguas MWD: State Water Project water blended with local groundwater. Moderately hard. Chloramine. Serves Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo, and Newbury Park.
• Las Virgenes MWD: Metropolitan Water District imported water. Softer than Calleguas. Serves Agoura Hills, Calabasas, and Malibu municipal areas.
• SCV Water: State Water Project water via Castaic Lake. Moderate hardness. Chloramine. Serves Canyon Country, Castaic, Valencia, and Santa Clarita.
• City of San Buenaventura (Ventura): Unique municipal utility. Moderate hardness. Chloramine. Tap-level testing especially important given its distinct distribution system.
• Westlake Village: Split between Las Virgenes MWD (LA County portion) and California American Water (Ventura County portion) — two different water profiles at addresses that may be blocks apart.

When a Water Test Leads to a Treatment Recommendation

• Water softener ($800–$2,500): For hardness above 7 GPG. Salt-based ion exchange removes calcium and magnesium. Correct sizing requires a tap-level hardness reading.
• Whole-house catalytic carbon filter ($800–$2,000): For homes with chloramine and high chlorine taste or odor concerns. Catalytic carbon media only — standard carbon does not treat chloramine effectively.
• Combined softener-filtration system ($1,500–$4,000): For homes with both high hardness and chloramine. Addresses both parameters in a single treatment system.

Reverse Osmosis — When It Fits

A reverse osmosis (RO) system at the kitchen tap is the most effective treatment for drinking water quality regardless of the utility supplying the home. RO removes dissolved solids, chloramine residual, heavy metals, and most other dissolved contaminants to very low concentrations. Point-of-use RO systems run $300 to $800 installed and are appropriate for any home where drinking water quality is a priority, independent of the whole-house treatment situation.