Water Softener in Corona, CA

How hardness shows up around the house

• Glasses and dishes come out of the dishwasher cloudy
• Crust builds on faucet aerators, showerheads and the toilet rim
• The water heater makes popping sounds as sediment settles
• Shampoo and soap lather poorly
• Faucet cartridges and shower valves start to stick
• Cloudy ice cubes that leave flakes in drinks

Corona's water supply and why hardness swings

Corona's city-owned utility blends several sources: groundwater from city wells, much of it treated by reverse osmosis at the Temescal Desalter, Colorado River water from Lake Mathews treated at the Sierra Del Oro and Lester plants, and some State Water Project water. The annual water quality report puts the average at 146 mg/L, but the range runs from 7.2 to 290 mg/L. Desalted water is very soft; other sources are much harder. That spread means your tap may be closer to one end than the other, so a test at your own kitchen sink is a better guide than the average.

Corona disinfects with chloramines. Softening does not remove them. Homeowners who want less chemical taste often pair a softener with a catalytic carbon filter.

Corona's utility also says pressure regulators are the customer's responsibility to replace. If your regulator is failing, it can make sense to deal with it at the same visit, since the softener goes on the same main line.

Cost factors

• Capacity, driven by the number of people and your measured hardness
• Location of the main: garage wall, side yard or exterior hose bib line
• Distance to a drain and electrical outlet
• A carbon stage for chloramine, if wanted
• Bypass piping to keep landscape water unsoftened
• Replacing a worn pressure regulator at the same time

After you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who covers Corona. Have a recent water bill handy and describe what you see: spotting, scale, or a water heater that seems to be losing capacity. If you have already tested your water with strips or a kit, share that number too; it tells the plumber which size of unit to bring and whether a carbon stage belongs in the plan. The City of Corona Building Division handles plumbing permits through eTRAKiT online; note that the division is closed on Fridays. The plumber can tell you whether your project needs a permit.