Mentone gets water from the City of Redlands, which blends Santa Ana River and Mill Creek surface water with local well water, and the City's water quality report is the place to check hardness before buying a softener. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Mentone.
Mentone's water situation
Mentone is an unincorporated foothill community east of Redlands on the south bank of the Santa Ana River. The City of Redlands has provided water to the Redlands and Mentone area for more than 90 years. Its supply blends Mill Creek watershed water treated at the Tate plant, Santa Ana River water treated at the Hinckley plant just north of Mentone, groundwater from wells in Redlands, Mentone and Yucaipa, and State Water Project water when needed. A blend like that means hardness at your tap can shift with the mix, so look at the City of Redlands water quality report or have your water tested.
Some Mentone parcels get Redlands water and sewer through out-of-agency service agreements approved case by case, so service can vary by property. Before installing a softener, confirm where your drain line leads, since that is where regeneration water goes. Mentone has no city government, so check with San Bernardino County about permits.
Which setup fits?
| Setup | Helps with | Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Salt-based softener | Scale, spotting, water heater life | Salt refills and a drain connection |
| High-efficiency softener | Same results with less salt and water per cycle | Higher upfront cost |
| Salt-free conditioner | Less scale sticking to surfaces | Water stays hard; spots remain |
| Reverse osmosis at the sink | Drinking and cooking water | Single tap only |
Signs worth acting on
- White deposits on fixtures that return after cleaning
- A water heater that rumbles or takes longer to reheat
- Stiff towels and dull laundry
- Low flow at showerheads and aerators
- Film on dishes and glass
Seasonal notes
Redlands leans on State Water Project water during peak demand, which usually means summer, so the blend reaching Mentone can change with the seasons. Mentone also sits at the foot of the mountains along SR-38, where winter nights get cold. Keep a softener in the garage or an insulated enclosure, and protect any exposed piping on the main line from frost. If you plan to replace a water heater soon, put the softener in first so the new heater starts on treated water. In an older house, replacing a stiff main shutoff at the same visit is also worth considering, since the water has to be turned off anyway.
Water Softeners & Filtration questions in Mentone
Where can I find the hardness of my water?
Why does my water seem harder some months than others?
Do I need a permit to install a softener here?
Where does a softener send its regeneration water?
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