Water Softener in Poway, CA

How hard is Poway's water?

Poway runs its own water utility. Nearly all of its raw water, about 99.5 percent, is imported through the San Diego County Water Authority from the State Water Project and Colorado River systems, with local rainfall caught in Lake Poway making up the rest. It's treated at the city's Lester J. Berglund Water Treatment Plant. The city's water quality report puts hardness at roughly 228 to 235 ppm as calcium carbonate on average, with a range of 165 to 291 ppm. Divide by about 17.1 and the averages land near 13 to 14 grains per gallon, firmly in the hard range.

That range is why a test at your own faucet matters. A valve programmed for the low end will let scale through when the water runs harder.

Does Poway's treatment affect the softener?

Poway disinfects with both chlorine and chloramines. Neither is removed by softening, and both slowly break down standard resin and rubber seals over years of exposure. A carbon tank ahead of the softener protects the resin and improves taste, and some installers use a higher-crosslink resin built to last longer under chlorinated water. If the only complaint is taste, carbon alone or a drinking water tap may be all you need.

What does a late-1970s Poway house need?

The median Poway home was built around 1978. Many have the main entering at the garage, but few were built with a softener loop, so the plumber usually cuts one in with a bypass and shutoffs. Larger lots and canyon properties often have long irrigation runs; those are best tied in ahead of the softener. The brine line needs a drain with an air gap, and the valve needs an outlet. In a hot garage, keep the control head away from the water heater's exhaust.

One local note

Poway's Building Division takes electronic submittals only, through the city's online services, with plan check and inspections handled for the city by EsGil Corporation. If the job alters piping, ask the plumber to confirm whether a permit is needed. For water or sewer problems on the city's side, Customer Services is 858-668-4401, and after 3:00 p.m. on business days, weekends and holidays the Water Treatment Plant takes calls at 858-668-4751.