Coronado's water comes from California American Water under contract with the city, and it is treated City of San Diego water that Cal Am's report lists at 145 to 280 ppm hardness, about 8.5 to 16.4 grains per gallon, at the source plants. A softener sized to a test at your tap protects fixtures and water heaters from that scale. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Coronado.
Coronado sits on a tied island with salt air on every side, a village feel and a major Navy presence. The city contracts with California American Water for supply, and every drop is surface water bought already treated from the City of San Diego's Alvarado and Otay plants, then chloraminated in Cal Am's system. Cal Am lists hardness at those plants of 145 to 280 ppm, or 8.5 to 16.4 grains per gallon; there is no separate figure for the Coronado system itself.
What to do now
- Test hardness at the kitchen faucet with strips or a drop kit, since the source plants span a wide range.
- Find where the main enters the house and whether a loop or bypass is already there.
- Pick an indoor or sheltered location; salt air is hard on control valves and exposed brass.
- Look for a drain nearby, such as a laundry standpipe, for the brine line.
- Ask the plumber to check with the city's Building Services Division, which issues some routine plumbing permits, such as re-pipes and same-location water heater change-outs, over the counter by email.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Scale back on fixtures soon after an install | Valve programmed below your measured hardness |
| Brine tank full of water | Stuck float or a blocked drain line |
| Salty taste at the tap | Rinse cycle cut short or injector problem |
| Corroded valve body or fittings | Salt air exposure at an outdoor location |
| Chlorine-like smell that softening didn't change | Chloramine disinfection, which needs carbon, not a softener |
Cost factors
The biggest swing is placement. An older home with the main entering under a front porch or into a small utility room needs more piping than a house with a stubbed-out garage loop. Resin size follows your tested hardness and household water use, and a metered valve that regenerates only after a set volume keeps salt use down. A carbon tank for chloramine, a drinking water faucet, stainless or coated hardware for a coastal location, and hauling off an old unit all add to the job. Cal Am reports no lead service lines in any of its systems, including the customer-owned side, though piping inside the house is a separate matter worth a look while the main is open.
Water Softeners & Filtration questions in Coronado
Does chloraminated tap water wear out softener resin?
Where can I look up the hardness of the water at my address?
What happens to a softener when the house sits empty for weeks?
Does putting in a softener loop need a permit?
More plumbing services in Coronado
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