Sherman Oaks tap water comes from LADWP and is disinfected with chloramine — the reason many residents notice a chemical taste and smell at the tap. Hardness is moderate to hard, around 6 to 8 grains per gallon depending on the blend, which is still enough to spot glass and scale a tankless heater. We are just over the hill in Burbank, about 15 to 20 minutes away, and have been improving water for Valley homes and businesses for over 20 years.
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What is in Sherman Oaks water?
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power supplies Sherman Oaks and publishes its results every year in the Drinking Water Quality Report. In 2025 the San Fernando Valley received about 44% Los Angeles Aqueduct water and 52% imported water from the Metropolitan Water District. Here is how those sources measured:
| Valley source (2025) | Avg. hardness | Grains per gallon |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant | 103 mg/L | ≈6.0 gpg |
| San Fernando Valley wells | 115 mg/L (78–151) | ≈6.7 gpg |
| MWD Jensen Plant (imported) | 140 mg/L | ≈8.2 gpg |
| Disinfectant | Chloramine (chlorine + ammonia) | |
Sherman Oaks water ranges from moderately hard to hard depending on which source is reaching your street. It is softer than Burbank or Pasadena, but still enough to leave spots and build scale in water heaters over time.
Source: LADWP Drinking Water Quality Report 2025, San Fernando Valley monitoring results. Grains per gallon calculated at 17.1 mg/L per grain.
The two issues Sherman Oaks homeowners call us about
1. Chloramine taste and smell
LADWP uses chloramine because it lasts longer in the pipes than plain chlorine. It keeps the water safe on its way to you, but many people dislike the taste in drinking water, coffee and ice, and notice it in the shower. Standard pitcher filters are not designed for chloramine. A catalytic carbon whole-house filter or a quality reverse osmosis system is.
2. Spots and scale
At 6 to 8 grains, Sherman Oaks water still leaves white spots on glass showers and dishes and slowly scales tankless water heaters, dishwashers and ice makers — especially when the imported MWD water is dominant. Whether you need a full softener or not depends on your reading, and we will tell you honestly.
Your options in Sherman Oaks
Reverse osmosis drinking water — the most popular upgrade
An under-sink reverse osmosis system removes chloramine taste, dissolved minerals and a wide range of contaminants, giving you clean, great-tasting water for drinking, cooking, coffee and ice. Our packages can add instant hot water, a chiller and a designer dual faucet in the same cabinet.
Straightforward pricing: drinking water systems start from $1,500 and whole-house water softening from $3,800, including professional installation, standard materials and the full manufacturer warranty.
Whole-house filtration
A catalytic carbon whole-house filter reduces chloramine taste and odor at every tap and shower, protecting skin, hair and rubber fixtures throughout the home.
Water softener or salt-free conditioner
If your reading and your appliances call for it, a salt-based softener gives truly soft water, while a salt-free TAC conditioner protects pipes and heaters from scale with no salt and no drain line. Many homes pair softening with filtration in our combined package.
Commercial systems
Restaurants and cafes along Ventura Boulevard, offices, salons and medical and dental practices rely on consistent water for equipment and customers. See our commercial reverse osmosis and water treatment.
Areas we serve in Sherman Oaks
North and south of Ventura Boulevard, the Sherman Oaks hills, Longridge Estates, the Van Nuys Boulevard and Woodman Avenue corridors and all Sherman Oaks ZIP codes: 91403 and 91423. We also cover Studio City, Encino, Van Nuys, Valley Village, North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale and the wider Los Angeles area.
How it works
- Free water test. We test the water at your own tap, including hardness and disinfectant, and show you the results.
- A straight recommendation. Filtration, reverse osmosis, softening or a combination — only what your water actually needs.
- Professional installation. Usually a single visit, clean work, and a walkthrough before we leave.
- We stay. Warranty on parts and labor, scheduled filter changes and a local team that answers the phone.
We test your tap, show you the numbers and give you a firm price — no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the water in Sherman Oaks?
Sherman Oaks is served by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. In LADWP’s 2025 monitoring results for San Fernando Valley sources, hardness averaged 103 mg/L from the Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant, 115 mg/L from Valley wells and 140 mg/L from the Metropolitan Water District’s Jensen plant. That works out to roughly 6 to 8 grains per gallon, which is moderately hard to hard depending on the blend reaching your home.
Is Sherman Oaks tap water safe to drink?
LADWP water meets state and federal drinking water standards. Many residents still choose reverse osmosis because of the taste and smell of chloramine, the disinfectant LADWP uses, and to reduce dissolved minerals for drinking, cooking, coffee and ice.
Does reverse osmosis remove chloramine?
A quality reverse osmosis system uses carbon pre-filtration designed for chloramine followed by the RO membrane, which together greatly reduce chloramine taste and odor along with dissolved solids. For whole-house chloramine reduction we use catalytic carbon filtration.
Do I need a water softener in Sherman Oaks?
Not always. At 6 to 8 grains your water is softer than Burbank or Pasadena, but it still leaves spots and scale, especially on tankless water heaters, glass showers and dishwashers. We test your actual tap and tell you honestly whether a softener, a salt-free conditioner or just filtration makes sense.
How much does a reverse osmosis system cost in Sherman Oaks?
Drinking water systems start from $1,500 and whole-house water softening from $3,800, including professional installation, standard materials and the full manufacturer warranty. We confirm your exact price on site after the free water test.
How long does installation take?
An under-sink reverse osmosis system usually takes one to two hours. A whole-house softener or filter is typically a single visit of two to four hours, depending on where your main line and drain are.
Can I install a system in a condo or apartment?
Yes. Under-sink reverse osmosis fits almost any kitchen, and a salt-free TAC conditioner or point-of-use filter works where HOA rules or space rule out a salt-based softener. We check the install location during the free water test.
Do you serve Sherman Oaks businesses?
Yes. We install and service reverse osmosis, filtration and softening for restaurants and cafes along Ventura Boulevard, offices, salons and medical and dental practices, and we rent bottleless water coolers. See our commercial systems.