Best Water Softener for Bakersfield, CA — 17 Things to Know BEFORE You Buy!

Written by Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips

1. The Local Water Problem in Bakersfield, CA

Your water heater is dying a slow, expensive death. If you live in Bakersfield, California, and you've noticed your energy bills creeping higher each month, the culprit isn't your thermostat — it's your water. At 15.2 grains per gallon (GPG), Bakersfield's municipal water supply ranks as extremely hard, placing it in the most severe category of mineral contamination affecting American households today.

To understand what 15.2 GPG means for your home, imagine your plumbing system as a network of arteries. Every gallon of Bakersfield water carries 15.2 grains of dissolved calcium and magnesium — minerals that behave like microscopic concrete mix once they encounter heat or evaporation. One grain per gallon equals 17.1 parts per million, which means every gallon flowing through your pipes contains roughly 260 parts per million of scale-forming minerals.

Bakersfield draws its water primarily from the Kern River and groundwater wells throughout the San Joaquin Valley. The geological reality of this region — ancient lake beds rich in limestone and mineral deposits — means every drop of water has spent decades or centuries dissolving calcium and magnesium from underground rock formations. By the time it reaches your home, Bakersfield water carries one of the highest mineral loads in California.

This isn't just a comfort issue or an aesthetic problem. At 15.2 GPG, the extremely hard classification means Bakersfield homeowners face accelerated appliance failure, energy waste that compounds monthly, and a hidden "hard water tax" that costs the average household $1,200 to $1,800 per year. Your dishwasher's heating element develops a thick calcium carbonate coating within months, not years. Your tankless water heater — if you're brave enough to install one without a softener — can lose 40% efficiency in 18 months.

The financial stakes extend beyond utilities. Real estate appraisers in Bakersfield consistently note hard water damage as a factor in home valuations — mineral staining on fixtures, prematurely aged appliances, and pipe scaling issues that surface during inspections. For families planning to stay in their homes long-term, the cumulative cost of ignoring 15.2 GPG water hardness reaches five figures over a decade.

2. What 15.2 GPG Does to Your Home

At 15.2 GPG, calcium carbonate doesn't just coat your water heater elements — it forms armor-thick deposits that can reduce heating efficiency by 25% within the first year. The chemistry is relentless: when Bakersfield's mineral-loaded water hits temperatures above 140°F, dissolved calcium and magnesium instantly precipitate into solid scale. A 40-gallon electric water heater operating at this hardness level typically loses 30-40% efficiency within 24 months, translating to $200-400 annually in excess energy costs for the average Bakersfield household.

Inside your home's plumbing, the mineral accumulation follows predictable patterns. Galvanized steel pipes — common in older Bakersfield neighborhoods built before 1980 — develop scale rings that narrow the interior diameter measurably within 5-7 years. The calcite crystallization process accelerates wherever water flow slows or temperatures rise, meaning your hot water lines suffer the most severe restriction. Homeowners often notice declining water pressure at faucets and showerheads long before they connect it to Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG hardness.

Appliance manufacturers have responded to extreme hardness levels like Bakersfield's with increasingly strict warranty language. Tankless water heater companies including Rinnai, Navien, and Rheem now void warranties in areas above 12 GPG hardness without documented water softening. The reason is economic: scale buildup at 15.2 GPG causes heat exchanger failure so quickly that warranty claims became unsustainable.

The soap and detergent waste in Bakersfield homes becomes a measurable monthly expense. Calcium and magnesium ions chemically bind with soap molecules, forming insoluble precipitates instead of cleansing lather. At 15.2 GPG, the average household uses 3-4 times the normal amount of laundry detergent, dish soap, and shampoo to achieve acceptable results. For a family of four, this translates to approximately $300-500 annually in excess soap and detergent purchases.

Personal care impacts escalate dramatically above 14 GPG. The calcium ions in Bakersfield water strip natural oils from skin and hair, leaving a mineral film that soap cannot effectively remove. Dermatologists in the Central Valley report higher incidences of eczema, dry skin conditions, and scalp irritation in cities with extreme hardness like Bakersfield. Hair becomes brittle and difficult to manage as mineral deposits coat each strand, blocking moisture absorption.

Laundry emerges from Bakersfield washers with a characteristic stiffness and gray tinge. At 15.2 GPG, mineral deposits embed permanently in fabric fibers, creating an abrasive texture that accelerates wear and fading. White cotton items develop an unmistakable dingy appearance within months, while colored fabrics lose vibrancy as calcium carbonate particles scatter light differently than clean textile surfaces.

The annual "hard water tax" for a Bakersfield household includes energy waste ($400-600), excess soap products ($350-500), accelerated appliance replacement ($300-400 annualized), and plumbing maintenance costs ($200-300). Conservative estimates place the total annual cost of living with 15.2 GPG water at $1,250-1,800 per household — money that simply wouldn't be spent in a soft water city.

3. Bakersfield's Specific Contaminant Profile

Beyond the crushing 15.2 GPG hardness baseline, Bakersfield residents contend with a layered challenge: iron, nitrates, and chlorine — each of which interacts with the extreme mineral content in its own destructive way. Understanding these contaminants individually is essential for Bakersfield homeowners because the combination creates compounded problems that hardness alone doesn't explain.

Iron in Bakersfield's Water Supply

Iron enters Bakersfield's water through two primary pathways: geological leaching from iron-rich sediments in San Joaquin Valley groundwater wells, and corrosion of aging distribution pipes throughout the city's older neighborhoods. The iron present is predominantly ferrous iron — dissolved, invisible, and tasteless when it leaves the treatment plant, but prone to rapid oxidation once exposed to air or when heated in your home.

At Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG hardness level, iron creates a particularly vicious cycle. The calcium carbonate scale that forms inside pipes and appliances provides an ideal surface for iron oxidation, creating red-orange staining that becomes permanently embedded in the mineral deposits. This explains why Bakersfield homeowners often see rust-colored buildup on faucet aerators, showerheads, and inside toilet tanks — it's not just iron staining, it's iron-contaminated scale.

Iron levels in Bakersfield typically range from 0.2 to 0.8 mg/L, with the EPA secondary maximum contaminant level set at 0.3 mg/L for aesthetic reasons. While not a health threat at these concentrations, iron above 0.3 mg/L creates serious operational problems for water softeners. Iron particles bind to softener resin beads, gradually reducing their calcium and magnesium exchange capacity and requiring more frequent cleaning or replacement.

The SoftPro Elite HE water softener can handle low levels of ferrous iron, but Bakersfield homeowners with iron levels above 0.3 mg/L should consider an iron pre-filter upstream of the softening system. This protects the softener resin investment while ensuring both iron removal and hardness reduction.

Nitrates in Bakersfield's Water

Nitrates infiltrate Bakersfield's groundwater primarily through agricultural runoff from the intensive farming operations surrounding the city. The San Joaquin Valley's agricultural productivity comes with a water quality cost — nitrogen-based fertilizers applied to crops eventually percolate through soil into the aquifers that supply Bakersfield's municipal wells.

Nitrate contamination shows seasonal variation in Bakersfield, typically peaking during spring months following winter fertilizer applications and irrigation cycles. The EPA maximum contaminant level for nitrates is 10 mg/L, established specifically to protect infants under six months and pregnant women from methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome). Bakersfield's nitrate levels generally remain below this threshold, but residents with private wells or those in agricultural areas may encounter higher concentrations.

Water softeners, including the SoftPro Elite HE, do NOT remove nitrates from water. This is a critical distinction for Bakersfield families — hardness removal and nitrate removal require completely different treatment technologies. Homeowners concerned about nitrate levels need a reverse osmosis system at their drinking water tap in addition to whole-house water softening.

Chlorine in Bakersfield's Municipal Treatment

Bakersfield adds chlorine to its water supply as the primary disinfectant, with concentrations varying seasonally based on bacterial growth potential and distribution system demands. Summer months typically see stronger chlorine taste and odor as higher temperatures increase bacterial activity, requiring more aggressive disinfection protocols.

The interaction between chlorine and Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG hardness creates accelerated corrosion of rubber gaskets, O-rings, and flexible supply lines throughout your home's plumbing system. Chlorine is inherently corrosive, and the presence of dissolved minerals intensifies its attack on elastomeric materials. This explains why Bakersfield homeowners often experience premature failure of washing machine hoses, toilet fill valves, and faucet seals.

Chlorine also combines with organic compounds in water to form disinfection byproducts including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). While these remain within EPA regulatory limits in Bakersfield's treated water, many families prefer to remove chlorine taste, odor, and byproduct potential at the point of use.

The SoftPro Elite HE focuses specifically on hardness removal and does not address chlorine. Bakersfield homeowners seeking comprehensive water treatment should consider pairing their softener with an activated carbon whole-house filter or point-of-use carbon filtration for drinking water.

4. Why Most Bakersfield Homeowners Pick the Wrong Softener

Walk through any Bakersfield neighborhood and you'll find water softeners that regenerate daily, use excessive salt, and still deliver hard water breakthrough during peak usage times. The reason isn't equipment failure — it's fundamental misunderstanding of what 15.2 GPG hardness demands from a residential water treatment system.

Mistake 1: Buying on Price Alone

A $400 big-box store softener rated for "4-6 people" will fail a Bakersfield household within weeks, regardless of family size. These units typically feature 24,000 to 32,000-grain capacity resin tanks designed for moderate hardness levels of 5-8 GPG. At Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG, the resin exhausts so quickly that regeneration cycles become daily events, wasting salt and water while still allowing hard water breakthrough during high-demand periods like morning showers.

Mistake 2: Confusing Softeners with Filters

Bakersfield residents dealing with iron staining often assume a water softener will solve all their water quality problems. Water softeners use ion exchange technology to remove calcium and magnesium minerals — nothing else. They do NOT reliably remove iron, nitrates, or chlorine from Bakersfield's water supply. Homeowners who expect their softener to eliminate rust staining, reduce nitrate levels, or remove chlorine taste will be disappointed and may conclude their system is defective when it's simply addressing a different problem.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Grain Capacity Math

The grain capacity calculation becomes critical at Bakersfield's extreme hardness level, yet most homeowners skip this step entirely. Here's the formula every Bakersfield resident should understand:

[Number of People] × 75 gallons/day × 15.2 GPG = daily grain demand

For a 4-person household: 4 × 75 × 15.2 = 4,560 grains per day. Multiply by 7 days and you need 31,920 grains of capacity for weekly regeneration — meaning a 32,000-grain unit is already at maximum capacity with zero buffer for high-usage days. This explains why undersized softeners in Bakersfield homes regenerate constantly and still deliver spotty performance.

Mistake 4: Overlooking Salt Efficiency

At 15.2 GPG, a water softener regenerates 2-3 times more frequently than it would in a moderate hardness city. An inefficient softener that uses 18-20 pounds of salt per regeneration cycle becomes expensive quickly — especially when regenerating every 3-4 days instead of weekly. Over 10 years in Bakersfield, an efficient softener saves $800-1,200 in salt costs compared to basic models, while delivering more consistent soft water output.

5. The SoftPro Elite HE: Built for Bakersfield's Water

After evaluating Bakersfield's water hardness of 15.2 GPG and the presence of iron, nitrates, and chlorine in the local supply, one system consistently rises to the top for Bakersfield homeowners: the SoftPro Elite HE Water Softener. This isn't marketing hyperbole — it's the logical conclusion based on Bakersfield's specific water chemistry and the performance demands of extreme hardness environments.

Salt-Based Ion Exchange Technology

At 15.2 GPG, salt-free "water conditioners" and electronic descaling devices simply cannot deliver results. These alternative technologies attempt to change the crystal structure of hardness minerals without actually removing them from the water. While they may provide modest benefits at 3-5 GPG hardness levels, Bakersfield's extreme mineral content overwhelms their limited capacity within days or weeks. The SoftPro Elite HE uses proven cation exchange resin to physically replace every calcium and magnesium ion with sodium — the only technology that delivers genuinely soft water at this hardness level.

Demand-Initiated Regeneration (DIR)

Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG hardness exhausts softener resin faster than moderate hardness cities, making regeneration timing critical for consistent performance. The SoftPro Elite HE's demand-initiated regeneration monitors actual water usage and resin capacity, regenerating only when the media is genuinely depleted. This prevents hard water breakthrough during peak demand periods (when under-regenerated resin fails) and eliminates wasteful regeneration cycles when the family is away (preventing salt and water waste).

NSF/ANSI Standard 44 Certified Components

Third-party certification becomes essential when your water treatment system operates under the stress conditions created by 15.2 GPG hardness. NSF/ANSI Standard 44 verifies that resin, control valves, and internal components meet strict performance and materials safety standards. For Bakersfield residents already managing iron and other contaminants, knowing the softening process itself doesn't introduce additional impurities provides critical peace of mind.

Multiple Grain Capacity Options

The SoftPro Elite HE offers 32,000, 48,000, 64,000, and 80,000-grain capacity models — flexibility that's essential for properly sizing a system for Bakersfield's extreme hardness. Using our earlier calculation, a 4-person Bakersfield household needs approximately 32,000 grains weekly. The 48,000-grain model provides the optimal buffer for high-usage days, holiday guests, and equipment longevity, while still regenerating efficiently every 5-7 days.

10-Year Comprehensive Warranty

Extreme hardness environments like Bakersfield place extraordinary stress on water softening equipment — resin sees heavy daily mineral loading, control valves cycle frequently, and internal components operate under continuous demand. The SoftPro Elite HE's 10-year warranty demonstrates manufacturer confidence in the system's ability to perform reliably throughout Bakersfield's challenging water conditions. This warranty period covers the years when hardness-related stress peaks, protecting your investment during the most critical operational phase.

Iron-Compatible Design

The SoftPro Elite HE is engineered to work downstream of iron-specific pretreatment systems — a crucial consideration for Bakersfield homes where iron levels approach or exceed 0.3 mg/L. The resin formulation and backwash programming accommodate the operational demands of iron-present water, while the system's modular design allows for seamless integration with upstream iron filtration when needed.

High-Efficiency Salt Usage

In Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG environment, salt efficiency translates directly to operational cost control. The SoftPro Elite HE uses approximately 6-8 pounds of salt per regeneration cycle compared to 15-20 pounds for basic softeners. With regeneration occurring every 5-7 days at this hardness level, the efficiency difference compounds to 400-600 pounds of salt savings annually — reducing both cost and environmental impact while maintaining optimal performance.

For Bakersfield households dealing with 15.2 GPG of water hardness and the compounding presence of iron, nitrates, and chlorine, the SoftPro Elite HE is not a comfort upgrade — it is infrastructure protection for your home.

6. How to Size Your Softener for Bakersfield

Proper sizing becomes critical at Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG hardness level — an undersized unit will regenerate daily and still deliver hard water breakthrough, while an oversized system wastes salt and water with each regeneration cycle. Follow this step-by-step calculation to determine the right SoftPro Elite HE capacity for your household.

Step 1: Count household members (include regular overnight guests)

Step 2: Multiply by 75 gallons per person per day (standard residential usage)

Step 3: Multiply household gallons × 15.2 GPG = daily grain demand

Step 4: Multiply daily grains × 7 = weekly grain demand

Step 5: Add 20% buffer for high-usage days and system longevity

Step 6: Match to SoftPro Elite HE capacity tier

Example calculation for 4-person Bakersfield household:

Step 1: 4 people
Step 2: 4 × 75 = 300 gallons/day
Step 3: 300 × 15.2 = 4,560 grains/day
Step 4: 4,560 × 7 = 31,920 grains/week
Step 5: 31,920 × 1.2 = 38,304 grains needed
Step 6: Select SoftPro Elite HE 48K model

The 48,000-grain capacity provides optimal regeneration intervals of 5-7 days while maintaining consistent soft water output during peak demand periods. Regenerating twice weekly ensures maximum salt efficiency while preventing resin exhaustion that causes hard water breakthrough during morning showers or laundry cycles.

7. Installation in Bakersfield: What to Know

Bakersfield does not require special permits for residential water softener installation, but the city's extreme hardness makes professional installation highly recommended for optimal system performance. The installation complexity increases when addressing 15.2 GPG hardness because proper placement, drain line routing, and startup procedures become critical for long-term success.

System placement follows standard protocol: after the main water shutoff valve and pressure regulator, but before the water heater and any branch lines to irrigation systems. The softener treats all water entering the home except for hose bibs and irrigation — you want hardness minerals available for landscape watering, and soft water can be harmful to plants and soil structure.

Bakersfield's municipal water pressure typically ranges from 45-65 PSI, which falls within the SoftPro Elite HE's optimal operating range of 25-80 PSI. However, homes in older neighborhoods or at higher elevations may experience lower pressure that affects regeneration effectiveness. A pressure test during installation ensures the system operates within specifications.

The drain line requirement becomes more significant at 15.2 GPG because regeneration cycles occur more frequently and produce higher volumes of mineral-laden brine discharge. The drain line must connect to a laundry sink, standpipe, or floor drain — never directly to a septic system without checking local capacity and soil conditions. Bakersfield's clay soil composition can affect septic system performance when handling frequent softener backwash cycles.

Salt selection matters at extreme hardness levels. For Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG water, use only evaporated salt pellets — the highest purity option available. Solar crystals and rock salt contain impurities that accumulate quickly when regeneration occurs every 5-7 days, leading to brine tank buildup and reduced system efficiency. The extra cost of evaporated pellets pays for itself through improved performance and reduced maintenance.

Initial startup requires setting the regeneration timer based on your calculated grain capacity and household usage patterns. Most Bakersfield homes benefit from regenerating during low-usage hours (typically 2-4 AM) to avoid service interruption during peak demand times.

8. Maintenance Schedule for Bakersfield Homeowners

Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG water hardness accelerates normal wear patterns on water softening equipment, making proactive maintenance essential for protecting your investment and ensuring consistent performance. The extreme mineral loading means components that might last years in moderate hardness cities require attention every few months in Bakersfield.

Monthly Maintenance Tasks

Check salt levels monthly — consumption rates are high at 15.2 GPG hardness. The average Bakersfield household uses 25-35 pounds of salt monthly, significantly higher than the 10-15 pounds typical in moderate hardness areas. Maintain salt levels at least 6 inches above the water line in the brine tank to prevent salt bridges from forming.

Inspect for salt bridges monthly. A salt bridge is a hard crust that forms above the water line, preventing salt from dissolving properly during regeneration. At Bakersfield's regeneration frequency, salt bridges can form quickly and cause immediate hard water breakthrough. Break up any crusted areas with a broom handle or similar tool.

Verify the bypass valve remains in service position. Accidental switching to bypass mode results in untreated 15.2 GPG water throughout your home — damage begins immediately at this hardness level.

Quarterly Maintenance (Every 3 Months)

Clean the brine tank quarterly to remove salt residue and prevent bacterial growth. High regeneration frequency at 15.2 GPG creates more opportunities for contamination, making regular cleaning essential. Empty the tank, scrub with mild bleach solution, and refill with fresh evaporated pellets.

Test post-softener water hardness using test strips. Properly functioning systems should deliver water below 1 GPG. If hardness creeps above 3 GPG, investigate resin fouling, salt bridges, or control valve issues immediately.

If your Bakersfield water contains iron above 0.3 mg/L, inspect pre-filters quarterly for discoloration or flow restriction. Replace filter cartridges as needed to protect the downstream softener resin.

Annual Maintenance Requirements

Perform complete brine tank cleaning annually, including inspection of the brine well and float assembly. Remove all salt, vacuum sediment from the tank bottom, and check for signs of bacterial growth or salt bridging damage.

Conduct resin bed performance evaluation. If post-softener hardness consistently exceeds 1 GPG despite proper salt levels and regeneration timing, the resin may require cleaning with iron-removing chemicals or replacement. Bakersfield's extreme hardness shortens resin life compared to moderate hardness environments.

Audit regeneration cycles for timing and salt dosage. Confirm the system still regenerates every 5-7 days based on your household's actual usage patterns. Adjust programming as needed for seasonal variations or changes in family size.

5-Year Maintenance Planning

Evaluate resin replacement needs every 5 years. At 15.2 GPG hardness, resin beads experience heavy mineral loading that gradually reduces their exchange capacity. Professional resin testing can determine whether cleaning or replacement provides better value.

9. Is Bakersfield's water at 15.2 GPG dangerous to drink?

Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG water hardness does not pose direct health risks — calcium and magnesium are essential minerals that many people actually need more of in their diets. The EPA does not regulate hardness as a health concern, focusing instead on aesthetic and economic impacts. However, the extreme mineral content creates secondary issues that affect daily life and home maintenance significantly.

10. Will a water softener remove iron from Bakersfield water?

The SoftPro Elite HE can handle low levels of ferrous (dissolved) iron, but Bakersfield homes with iron levels above 0.3 mg/L need dedicated iron filtration upstream of the softener. Iron particles bind to softener resin over time, reducing capacity and requiring more frequent cleaning. For optimal performance with Bakersfield's iron-containing water, pair the softener with an iron pre-filter system.

11. How much salt will I use per month in Bakersfield at 15.2 GPG?

Bakersfield households typically use 25-35 pounds of salt monthly with the SoftPro Elite HE, compared to 10-15 pounds in moderate hardness cities. The exact amount depends on family size, water usage patterns, and system efficiency. Always use evaporated salt pellets at this hardness level — the purity prevents brine tank buildup that reduces efficiency over time.

12. Does Bakersfield require a permit to install a water softener?

Bakersfield does not require special permits for residential water softener installation, but major plumbing modifications may need permits through the city's building department. Most softener installations qualify as routine maintenance that doesn't require permitting. However, check with your installer about any electrical connections or significant plumbing rerouting that might trigger permit requirements.

13. Why does soft water feel slippery in the shower?

The "slippery" sensation occurs because soft water allows soap to work effectively — without calcium and magnesium ions interfering, soap creates proper lather instead of sticky scum. Bakersfield residents accustomed to 15.2 GPG water often notice this change immediately after softener installation. Your skin is actually cleaner because soap can rinse away completely, leaving natural oils intact instead of mineral residue.

14. How quickly will I see results after installing a softener in Bakersfield?

Results appear within 24-48 hours of installation — soap lathers better immediately, and new scale formation stops within days. However, removing existing scale buildup throughout your Bakersfield home's plumbing takes 3-6 months of soft water circulation. White spots on dishes disappear after the first few wash cycles, while clothes require several wash cycles to release embedded minerals and regain softness.

15. Can the SoftPro Elite HE handle Bakersfield's water without a separate filter?

The SoftPro Elite HE effectively addresses Bakersfield's 15.2 GPG hardness and low levels of iron, but nitrates and chlorine require separate treatment technologies. For comprehensive water treatment, pair the softener with activated carbon filtration for chlorine removal and reverse osmosis at drinking water taps for nitrate reduction. The softener handles the primary problem — hardness — while companion systems address specific contaminants.

16. What's the total cost of installing a water softener in Bakersfield?

Complete installation of a properly sized SoftPro Elite HE system in Bakersfield typically ranges from $2,200-3,500 including equipment, professional installation, and startup. Factor in annual salt costs of $120-180 and occasional maintenance expenses. However, the system pays for itself within 18-24 months through energy savings, reduced soap usage, and appliance protection at 15.2 GPG hardness levels.

17. Final Verdict for Bakersfield

Bakersfield's hardness of 15.2 GPG demands commercial-grade treatment in a residential package. This isn't the kind of moderate hardness that homeowners can ignore for a few years — it's an active threat to every water-using appliance and system in your home. The combination of extreme mineral content with iron, nitrates, and chlorine creates a perfect storm of water quality challenges that requires professional-level solutions.

The SoftPro Elite HE rises to meet Bakersfield's specific demands because of three critical feature alignments: its demand-initiated regeneration prevents hard water breakthrough during peak usage, its high-efficiency salt usage controls operational costs when regenerating twice weekly, and its iron-compatible design accommodates the pretreatment systems many Bakersfield homes require. These aren't luxury features — they're operational necessities at this hardness level.

For Bakersfield residents, the question isn't whether to install a water softener, but how quickly you can protect your home's infrastructure. Every month of delay with 15.2 GPG water costs money in energy waste, soap consumption, and accelerated appliance aging that won't be recovered later. The SoftPro Elite HE represents the most reliable path to consistent soft water performance in one of California's most challenging municipal water environments.

Check current SoftPro Elite HE pricing and available grain capacities for Bakersfield households through certified local dealers who understand the unique installation and operational requirements of extreme hardness environments. In a city where the oil derricks remind residents that valuable resources lie beneath the surface, protecting your home from what flows through the pipes above ground becomes equally essential.