Phoenix water quality- A lot to be desired (Scottsdale, Surprise: house, live)

[DougStark]

IMO, Phoenix would be A LOT more desirable of a city if it had decent drinking water. I know we have to deal with what we're given (crappy, salty water from rivers), but if magic could be done and Phoenix's water was as delicious as Seattle's or NYC's, this city would benefit immeasurably. San Francisco also has extremely high quality water, btw.

What do you think?

Benefits of better water:
-Trees, lawns and outdoor plantings would thrive instead of just survive
-No more water softeners (which pollute groundwater with sodium and chloride)
-healthier skin, hair, dishes
-easier to clean surfaces/windows without water spots- imagine that!
-no need for reverse osmosis units
-massive increase in revenue for the high tech industry that relies on high quality water

[JGMotorsport64]

While I agree this whole region including Nevada, New Mexico and a good chunk of California have awful water. But in Phoenix, any water is good enough, even the effluent we use in recharging aquifers.

Israel does an amazing job wither reuse and is very green at the same time we could stand to learn more always.

[observer53]

You are never going to get city water to a point that some people would not feel the need for water softening and reverse osmosis. I haven't had either for decades, but some say they have to have it, okay for them. The source of the water here, vs. the sources in the other cities you name, are just geologically different. Deal with it. Same with the water spots. That said, I've seen some very clean windows around here. You are either just not doing it right, or looking for more things to complain about Phoenix than you've already done.

I've seen some thriving trees and grass around here, too, for those who want to have it. I realize this involves another of your pet peeves, so enough said.

We've always had a fair amount of high tech industry here. Can you point to a source (link) that says that X company did not move here because its high tech operations couldn't use Phoenix water?

[Serenity1944]

I am from Pennsylvania originally, came out west 35 years ago. PA water was good so I could not help noticing the bad taste in various cities. LA was the worst. Someone back then had told me that the further west you go the worse the water. St George, Utah had good water, Sacramento water tasted like fish had been swimming in it. That was when I drank only bottled water then eventually switched to a faucet mount filter. I like a filter on the shower too.

[Moo_juu]

I came to Surprise (Phoenix suburb) exactly one week ago. I came kicking and screaming prepared to hate this place. Yet even with my desire to confirm anything negative, I must admit that the drinking water to me taste just fine and I wonder what all the fuss is about. I have heard from many people how supposedly bad this water is, but it is ok to me.

I have lived in many places and to me the worse water was in New York. Although thankfully, I only visited there.

[ShampooBanana]

Yes, the water here is not awesome and certainly not comparable to Denver or Central Illinois which both have AWESOME tasting water. Still, it's passable and clean enough for drinking, which is much more than many places in the world can say.

[43north87west]

Here in Central Phoenix it's pretty good. I used to get quite a variety of wacky tasting water in North Scottsdale though. Also, when I lived in Ahwatukee, I had some really odd spotting problems with dishes and glasses.

Where I live now, I don't even think about it anymore. Glasses are sparkling, windows and mirrors are spotless, and I don't have either a RO or softener. I do get the same mineral deposits after a while, but they're pretty expected in some places.

FWIW, my other house is in Wisconsin, in a city with outstanding water. It should (maybe is) bottled. Same goes for most of the Chicago area. Out in the 'burbs, though, a lot of people still have groundwater wells and have all sorts of weird issues.

[SageCats]

I agree that the Phoenix area has pretty bad tasting water. All my shower heads would also turn white and get clogged. The water was just too hard.

[Ztonyg]

I believe a water softener is almost a necessity here.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by Ztonyg

I believe a water softener is almost a necessity here.

I just have filtered drinking water and use the standard tap for everything else.

Water spots in the dishwasher? Wash the dishes with distilled white vinegar every now and then and it will remove the calcium deposits on your dishes on the inside of your dishwasher.

Soap scum in the shower? Stop using bar soap.

Everything shouldn't really matter.