La Cañada Flintridge, CA tap water
Supplied mostly by Foothill Municipal Water Dist., plus 2 other utilities. Here's what the water means for your fish.
Disinfectant
Chloramine
Your water is treated with chloramine. Unlike chlorine, it doesn't gas off when water sits out, and many pitcher and fridge filters aren't rated to remove it. Conditioners that list chloramine on the label break it apart, which frees a little ammonia. Some utilities switch to plain chlorine for a few weeks a year.
Safety for fish and shrimp
Nitrite (NO₂)
Not detected (Low)
Not detected in testing, so any nitrite in your tank comes from the tank itself.
From California Water Board lab results (2023–2026).
Nitrate (NO₃)
Supplier's figureUp to 25 ppm (Low)
Typically not detected
Not detected in testing, so water changes lower your tank's nitrate well.
From the utility that supplies yours: Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies Foothill Municipal Water Dist.; California Water Board lab results (2023–2026).
Copper at home taps
Not detected (Low)
Not detected in testing. Water that sits in household pipes overnight can still pick some up.
From California Water Board lab results (2025).
Water chemistry
General hardness
Supplier's figure82–291 ppm
Typical 234 ppm
Hard. Ideal for livebearers and African cichlids. Soft-water species may struggle to breed.
From the utility that supplies yours: Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies Foothill Municipal Water Dist.; Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies Valley Water Co.; Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies La Canada Irrigation Dist. (2023–2026).
Carbonate hardness (alkalinity)
Supplier's figure68–126 ppm
Typical 106 ppm
Moderate buffering. pH should stay fairly steady.
From the utility that supplies yours: Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies Foothill Municipal Water Dist.; Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies Valley Water Co.; Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies La Canada Irrigation Dist. (2023–2026).
pH
Supplier's figure8.1–8.7
Typical 8.2
Alkaline. Many utilities raise pH to protect pipes. Stability matters more than the exact number.
From the utility that supplies yours: Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies Foothill Municipal Water Dist.; Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies Valley Water Co.; Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies La Canada Irrigation Dist. (2023–2026).
Total dissolved solids
Supplier's figure214–666 ppm
Typical 535 ppm
A rough measure of everything dissolved in the water. RO water reads near 0, so TDS is a quick way to compare waters.
From the utility that supplies yours: Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies Foothill Municipal Water Dist.; California Water Board lab results; Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal., which supplies La Canada Irrigation Dist. (2023–2026).
Who supplies La Cañada Flintridge, CA
Foothill Municipal Water Dist.
Serves 52% of residents · Buys water from Metropolitan Water Dist. of So. Cal. · Chloramine
Valley Water Co.
Serves 24% of residents · Buys water from Foothill Municipal Water Dist. · Chloramine
La Canada Irrigation Dist.
Serves 20% of residents · Buys water from Foothill Municipal Water Dist. · Chloramine
Our data comes from public records and is still incomplete. Many utilities don't publish every number, so we're adding more all the time. Your city's range is a starting point: testing your own tap is the only way to know exactly what's in it.
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Compiled by Shoal & Stem from public records. Free to cite with a link.