AlkaVida Alka75 Review: Is It the Best Water System for Los Banos CA Homeowners?
Los Banos battles some of the hardest water in the Valley at 16-24 GPG plus selenium and high TDS. We evaluate the Alka75 for Westside Merced County homeowners.
· CWT Editorial Team · 6 min read
Los Banos sits on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley in Merced County, a community of approximately 45,000 people that has grown rapidly over the past two decades. The city's location on the Westside creates a water quality profile that is among the most challenging in the entire Central Valley — and that is saying something in a region known for difficult water.
Water hardness in Los Banos ranges from 16 to a staggering 24 grains per gallon. The city sources water from groundwater wells and Delta-Mendota Canal deliveries, and both sources carry significant mineral loads. But the hardness is just the surface issue. The Westside of the Valley is notorious for selenium from geological drainage, and Los Banos water can carry elevated levels. Nitrates from surrounding dairy and almond operations, high TDS frequently exceeding 500 ppm, and boron traces round out a water profile that demands serious treatment.
The Alka75 for Los Banos: Addressing Westside Water
The AlkaVida Alka75's 22-stage system is particularly well-suited for Los Banos water because of its multi-contaminant approach:
- Selenium reduction: The RO membrane effectively reduces selenium, which is a specific Westside concern that many water treatment systems are not tested against
- TDS reduction: With Los Banos TDS often exceeding 500 ppm — the EPA secondary standard — the Alka75's RO stage can reduce this by 90% or more
- Boron reduction: RO membranes provide moderate boron reduction, relevant for Westside water
- Nitrate removal: Essential given the dairy and farming operations surrounding Los Banos
- Alkaline remineralization: After removing contaminants, the system adds back beneficial minerals and raises pH, producing water that tastes dramatically different from raw Los Banos tap water
For Los Banos residents who have been buying bottled water for years because they cannot stand the taste of their tap water — and many have — the Alka75 can eliminate that ongoing expense while providing better purification than most bottled water brands deliver.
Cost and Competition in Los Banos
The Alka75 retails at approximately $4,995 with financing available from $45/month. In a community where many families spend $50-$100/month on bottled water or water delivery services, the math on a premium filtration system can actually work in the homeowner's favor over a 5-10 year period.
Compared to competitors:
- Culligan RO systems ($1,500-$3,000) use fewer stages and lack alkaline enhancement
- Big-box RO units ($150-$500) are not engineered for selenium or the extreme TDS levels found in Los Banos water
- RainSoft systems are comparably priced but do not include RED-D pharmaceutical media
The key question for Los Banos homeowners: is your water quality concern limited to taste, or are you concerned about specific contaminants like selenium and nitrates? If the latter, the Alka75's comprehensive approach is worth the premium.
Find water treatment professionals serving Los Banos at CommunityWaterTest.org. Start with a water test — Westside water quality can vary significantly depending on your water source and well depth.
Topics: AlkaVida Alka75, water treatment Los Banos, Los Banos water quality, selenium water contamination, alkaline water Los Banos CA, hard water Merced County, water filtration Los Banos CA