Water Quality
Four public utilities supply tap water across the San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita: LADWP, Burbank Water and Power (BWP), Glendale Water and Power (GWP), and SCV Water. Each publishes a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) by July 1 every year. The 2025 CCRs covering 2024 sampling data show the same regional pattern: all four utilities use chloramine as the primary distribution disinfectant, all four add fluoride at 0.7 mg/L, and hardness at the tap ranges from a low of roughly 12 grains per gallon in LADWP aqueduct-heavy zones to a high of 25 grains per gallon or more in Santa Clarita groundwater zones. Chromium-6 regulatory history is concentrated in the Burbank and Glendale Superfund plume areas. Here is what the numbers show for each utility and what they mean for the right filtration choice.
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How This Comparison Was Built
Every public water system serving more than 25 people must file an annual CCR with the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water and deliver it to customers by July 1. CCRs report the previous calendar year's sampling data: the contaminant detected, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), the level found, and the source. This comparison draws from the 2025 CCRs (covering 2024 data) for each of the four utilities, supplemented by EPA Superfund site records and the EPA UCMR 5 occurrence database.
Hardness is not a regulated health contaminant, so it does not appear in CCRs directly. The hardness figures below come from USGS groundwater data for the San Fernando Valley basin and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power water quality monitoring reports. Field measurements across 2,000+ UpTown Cares installs across the Valley have consistently corroborated these ranges. The SFV water quality overview shows the basin-level context.
The Data: Key Metrics by Utility
The table below summarizes the five metrics that matter most for residential filtration decisions across the SFV service area. All values are from 2025 CCRs or named public databases. Readers should download their own utility's CCR for the exact annual average and distribution range for their pressure zone.
| Metric | LADWP | Burbank WP | Glendale WP | SCV Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disinfection method | Chloramine | Chloramine | Chloramine | Chloramine |
| Typical hardness at tap | 12-25 gpg (zone-dependent: aqueduct blend zones lower, groundwater zones higher) | 13-22 gpg (per BWP 2024 CCR and USGS basin data) | 13-20 gpg (per GWP 2024 CCR) | 18-28 gpg (higher carbonate geology in SCV basin, per SCV Water 2024 CCR) |
| Fluoride | Added, 0.7 mg/L target | Added, 0.7 mg/L target | Added, 0.7 mg/L target | Added, 0.7 mg/L target |
| pH (distribution target) | 7.5-8.5 (corrosion control) | 7.5-8.5 | 7.5-8.5 | 7.5-8.5 |
| Chromium-6 (Cr-VI) context | SFV groundwater plume documented (North Hollywood / Burbank corridor); wellhead treatment applied at affected wells | Burbank Operable Unit: EPA Superfund-documented Cr-6 and VOC plume; BWP treats affected groundwater before distribution | Glendale Operable Unit: similar aerospace-legacy Cr-6 and VOC plume; GWP treats affected wells | Lower industrial-legacy Cr-6 concern; some naturally occurring chromium in local wells; wellhead monitoring in place |
| PFAS status | Monitoring per CA SWRCB order; some wells previously offline; see LADWP CCR | Monitoring in place; see BWP 2024 CCR for current results | Monitoring in place; see GWP 2024 CCR for current results | Monitoring in place; UCMR 5 results for SCV Water available via EPA UCMR database |
Sources: LADWP 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (ladwp.com); Burbank Water and Power 2025 CCR (burbanklwp.com); Glendale Water and Power 2025 CCR (glendaleca.gov); SCV Water 2025 Annual Water Quality Report (scvwater.org); USGS groundwater quality data; EPA Superfund site records for the San Fernando Valley Valley I, II, and III Superfund sites and the Burbank and Glendale Operable Units.
What the Numbers Mean by Utility
LADWP: Most of the SFV, Biggest Range in Hardness
LADWP serves North Hollywood, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Northridge, Reseda, Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Chatsworth, and most of the Valley west of the 405. Its source blend is the key variable: homes near Tujunga or North Hollywood wellfield pressure zones see harder water (closer to 20-25 grains per gallon) because the groundwater proportion is higher. Homes in zones blended more heavily toward Owens Valley aqueduct supply tend toward the 12-16 gpg range. The SFV hardness by zip code guide breaks this down further.
LADWP's chromium-6 history is real but managed. The utility treats affected wells before distribution and has taken non-compliant wells offline while remediation continues under EPA Superfund oversight. The Cr-6 story for LADWP customers is not "is it in my water" but "how far below the MCL is it and does the PHG gap concern me." Reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink is the standard residential response for households with health-sensitive members.
Burbank Water and Power: Heavier Groundwater Blend, Active Remediation Zone
BWP serves the incorporated city of Burbank, including parts of the Valley served by portions of the Burbank Operable Unit plume area. Burbank has historically relied more heavily on local groundwater than LADWP, which means its water quality is more sensitive to the Burbank OU contamination history. The utility has invested in wellhead treatment and source switching to manage this, and current CCR data shows compliance across the board. But the context matters for households near the historical plume corridor (the area along the Burbank Airport and former aerospace corridor toward Glendale).
BWP's hardness range from its 2024 CCR falls in the 13-22 gpg range, similar to LADWP's groundwater-blend zones. The same filtration logic applies: whole-house catalytic carbon for chloramine, point-of-use reverse osmosis for Cr-6 and PFAS if household sensitivity warrants it.
Glendale Water and Power: Similar Profile to Burbank, Foothills Variation
GWP serves Glendale, the Crescenta Valley, and portions of the Verdugo Mountains foothills. The Glendale Operable Unit is one of the largest contaminated groundwater areas in Los Angeles County, originating from aerospace manufacturing operations (Lockheed, Rocketdyne) active from the 1940s through the 1980s. Like BWP, GWP treats affected wells and has historically taken non-compliant sources offline. The 2024 CCR shows compliance. Customers in the Glendale foothills may also see hardness variation based on elevation and local geology.
SCV Water: Santa Clarita's Hardest Water, Different Contaminant Profile
SCV Water serves the Santa Clarita Valley: Valencia, Newhall, Stevenson Ranch, Saugus, Canyon Country, Castaic, and surrounding areas. Its territory is geologically different from the SFV floor: the Santa Clara River basin sits in a higher-elevation valley with more carbonate bedrock influence. The result is harder water on average, ranging from 18 to 28 grains per gallon at the tap depending on blend and zone. This is the range where scale buildup on appliances, water heaters, and plumbing is most visible and most economically damaging.
SCV Water's chromium-6 situation differs from the LADWP/BWP/GWP industrial legacy: what Cr-6 appears in SCV groundwater tends to come from naturally occurring chromium in the local geology rather than an industrial plume, though monitoring is active. PFAS monitoring has found some detections in SCV territory, documented in the UCMR 5 data and the utility's annual CCR. The PFAS in SFV and Santa Clarita water guide covers this in detail.
The practical implication for Santa Clarita homeowners: a water softener or TAC conditioner is harder to skip than in the rest of the service area, given the scale impact at 18-28 gpg. The standard UpTown Cares configuration for Santa Clarita customers is whole-house softener or carbon-plus-softener combination. See our softener service page for the system options.
The One Metric That Is the Same Everywhere: Chloramine
All four utilities use chloramine as their primary residual disinfectant in distribution. This is not a coincidence. LADWP, BWP, GWP, and SCV Water all connect to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's imported water, and MWD uses chloramine across its distribution network for the same regulatory and stability reasons. Chloramine is more persistent in long pipe runs than free chlorine and produces fewer regulated disinfection byproducts, which is why Southern California as a region moved to chloramine decades ago.
The residential implication is consistent across all four utility service areas: standard carbon filters handle free chlorine well but need to be catalytic carbon to effectively break down chloramine. See the chloramine guide for the chemistry. The pool smell from your SFV or Santa Clarita tap is the same molecule whether your address is in North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, or Valencia.
How to Find and Read Your Utility's CCR
Each utility posts its CCR annually on its website. Direct links as of July 2026:
- LADWP: ladwp.com/water-quality (also mailed to billing address)
- Burbank Water and Power: burbankwaterandpower.com/water-quality-report
- Glendale Water and Power: glendaleca.gov water department page
- SCV Water: scvwater.org/water-quality
When reading your CCR, look for: the annual average and range for total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5), the entry for chromium-6 (listed as hexavalent chromium), any PFAS results (now required under UCMR 5), and the fluoride level. Compare the "level found" column to the MCL column. The California water quality rules guide explains the regulatory terms and what each MCL means in practice.
Filtration Decision by Utility Zone
The right filtration configuration depends on which utility supplies your home and which specific concerns apply to your household. The table below maps the most common configuration by zone. All configurations below assume a free in-home water test has confirmed the baseline readings.
| Utility zone | Most common residential configuration | Add-on for health-sensitive households |
|---|---|---|
| LADWP (aqueduct-blend zones) | Whole-house catalytic carbon (chloramine). Service page. | Under-sink RO for Cr-6, PFAS, and lead at kitchen tap |
| LADWP (groundwater-blend zones: Sun Valley, North Hollywood, Pacoima) | Whole-house catalytic carbon plus softener (hardness at 20-25 gpg range) | Under-sink RO. Lead test on first visit if pre-1986 home. |
| Burbank WP | Whole-house catalytic carbon. Coverage map. | Under-sink RO (Burbank OU plume area: Cr-6 and VOC context) |
| Glendale WP | Whole-house catalytic carbon | Under-sink RO (Glendale OU plume area: Cr-6 and VOC context) |
| SCV Water (Santa Clarita) | Whole-house softener plus catalytic carbon (hardness 18-28 gpg) | Under-sink RO for PFAS and Cr-6 at kitchen tap |
Serving all four utility zones
UpTown Cares installs across LADWP, Burbank WP, Glendale WP, and SCV Water service areas. Our in-home test includes a hardness reading, free and total chlorine, and TDS at your specific tap, so the configuration we quote is based on your actual numbers, not a utility average.
See our coverage map · Book a free water test · Call (213) 838-9330
Frequently Asked Questions
Which SFV utility has the hardest water?
Based on 2025 CCR data and USGS basin records, SCV Water customers in Santa Clarita generally encounter the hardest water in the regional service area, with typical tap readings of 18 to 28 grains per gallon due to higher carbonate mineral content in local groundwater and the Santa Clara River basin geology. Within LADWP's territory, zones drawing more heavily on local SFV groundwater (Sun Valley, Pacoima, North Hollywood portions) tend toward the higher end of the 12 to 25 gpg range. Verify your home's reading with a free in-home water test.
Does my SFV water utility add fluoride?
Yes. LADWP, Burbank Water and Power, Glendale Water and Power, and SCV Water all add fluoride at the 0.7 mg/L target set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2015. Fluoride is confirmed in each utility's annual CCR. Standard reverse osmosis at NSF/ANSI 58 certification removes fluoride; non-RO filters do not.
Is chromium-6 still a concern in SFV tap water?
LADWP, Burbank WP, and Glendale WP all operate within or adjacent to documented industrial-legacy chromium-6 plume areas (the SFV Superfund complex, the Burbank Operable Unit, and the Glendale Operable Unit). Each utility treats affected groundwater wells and publishes Cr-6 results in its annual CCR. Current results are within California's 10 ppb MCL. California's 0.02 ppb Public Health Goal is more stringent, and households with young children or other health-sensitive members often choose under-sink reverse osmosis as a point-of-use treatment step regardless of compliance status.
Why does my water smell like a pool even though my neighbor's does not?
All four utilities use chloramine, but the disinfectant residual at your tap depends on your distance from the nearest treatment or booster station. Customers at the end of a long distribution segment often experience lower residual; customers closer to a booster station may smell it more strongly. Seasonal source-water blending also shifts residuals. A catalytic carbon whole-house system removes chloramine regardless of the specific residual at your tap. See the chloramine guide for the chemistry and treatment options.
Where can I find my utility's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report?
CCRs are posted on each utility's website by July 1 each year and mailed to billing-address customers. For LADWP, search "LADWP water quality report" at ladwp.com. For Burbank WP, check burbankwaterandpower.com. For Glendale WP, check glendaleca.gov under the water department. For SCV Water, check scvwater.org/water-quality. Each report is free and covers the prior calendar year's sampling data.
Do I need a different filter for Burbank water than for LADWP water?
The core configuration is the same (catalytic carbon for chloramine, reverse osmosis for dissolved contaminants) because both utilities use chloramine and face similar regional contaminant pressures. The difference is context: Burbank OU history means that households near the historical plume corridor have a stronger practical reason to include point-of-use RO rather than treating it as optional. The specific system sizing and whether a softener is added depend on the hardness reading at your tap, which a free in-home test confirms. See our service areas page for Burbank coverage.
Know your utility. Know your water. Make the right choice.
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Last updated: July 22, 2026. Data from 2025 Consumer Confidence Reports (covering 2024 sampling). Verify current values with your utility's most recent CCR. Regulatory levels are subject to change; check the California State Water Board Division of Drinking Water and EPA drinking water page for current standards.
Related reading: What 2,000 SFV Installs Taught Us · Chloramine in SFV Water · CA Water Quality Rules 2026 · SFV Hardness by Zip Code · PFAS in SFV and Santa Clarita · Whole-House Filtration · Water Softeners · Reverse Osmosis · Water Testing · SFV Water Quality Overview · Service Areas · Financing · Warranty · FAQ · Contact
