Is tap water safe in Burbank?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Burbank, CA?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 180 ppm (10.5 grains per gallon), classified as hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 91501?

At 180 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Burbank water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Burbank, California.

Median indexed hardness

180PPM

5 indexed ZIPs

Range 180–180 PPM

State comparison: 9 PPM below
State hardness rank: #170 of 242
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Burbank has 5 published ZIP profiles across Los Angeles County. The indexed median is 180 PPM, compared with 189 PPM across California.

Among the 242 Californiacities with an indexed median, Burbank ranks #170from highest to lowest. Across all 678 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 3.3to 728.5 PPM.

The 180–180 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard5 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

5 of 5 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 17.5 miles
Profiles with evidence: 5/5

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 5Low: 0

Burbank-City, Water Dept.

PWSID CA1910179

Surface water

System population served: 105,603
Last reported: Jun 22, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Carbon tetrachloride	CA1910179	Sep 1, 2022	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	CA1910179	Sep 1, 2022	Resolved
Tetrachloroethylene	CA1910179	Sep 1, 2022	Resolved
Trichloroethylene	CA1910179	Sep 1, 2022	Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule	CA1910179	Jul 1, 2022	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other California communities

Alhambra

Los Angeles County

189 PPM median

Arcadia

Los Angeles County

212 PPM median

Beverly Hills

Los Angeles County

180 PPM median

Cerritos

Los Angeles County

189 PPM median

Compton

Los Angeles County

189 PPM median

Covina

Los Angeles County

182 PPM median

Search all 242 California cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Burbank

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 180 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.