State distribution
Hardness across indexed ZIPs
Counts describe published ZIP profiles, not a population-weighted statewide sample.
Soft · 0–60 PPM10
Moderately hard · 61–120 PPM94
Hard · 121–180 PPM35
Very hard · 181+ PPM0
State water index
Pennsylvania water hardness
Search 50 indexed communities and 139 ZIP profiles, then compare the underlying utility, source, distance, and reporting context.
Median indexed hardness
84PPM
Moderately Hard
Indexed range 43–166.5 PPM
- ZIP profiles
- 139
- Cities
- 50
- Matched utilities
- 50
- Counties
- 28
Understanding Pennsylvania
Why local comparisons matter here
Pennsylvania crosses multiple Appalachian ridges, plateaus, carbonate valleys, river basins, and glacial deposits in the northwest and northeast.
In this index, moderately hard is the largest category, covering 94 of 139 profiles with hardness data. The state median is 84 PPM, but the full indexed range is 43–166.5 PPM.
Evidence coverage
What the current records support
- Hardness estimate
- 100%
- Lead 90th percentile
- 99%
- Copper 90th percentile
- 5%
3
Low-confidence hardness profiles
3
Nearest site more than 25 miles away
Reported source water
Utility source mix
- Surface water
- 33
- Groundwater
- 16
- Groundwater influenced by surface water
- 1
Highest medians
Hardest indexed cities
- 1. Waterford167 PPM
- 2. Edinboro164 PPM
- 3. Knox164 PPM
- 4. Rural Valley155 PPM
- 5. Mont Alto143 PPM
Lowest medians
Softest indexed cities
- 1. Bradford43 PPM
- 2. Towanda44 PPM
- 3. Emporium44 PPM
- 4. Lock Haven45 PPM
- 5. Wellsboro46 PPM
City directory
Explore Pennsylvania by city
Search by city or county, then sort by name, hardness, or ZIP coverage.
50 cities · 139 ZIP profiles
50 cities found
Page 1 of 3
Altoona
Blair County · 2 ZIPs
86PPM
Range 80.5–91.5No active flag
Bainbridge
Lancaster County · 1 ZIP
116PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Bath
Northampton County · 1 ZIP
108PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Bethlehem
Northampton County · 2 ZIPs
93PPM
Range 91.1–94.1No active flag
Blossburg
Tioga County · 1 ZIP
48PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Bradford
Mckean County · 1 ZIP
43PPM
Single indexed value1 active record
Brookville
Jefferson County · 1 ZIP
88PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Carlisle
Cumberland County · 1 ZIP
112PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Chester
Delaware County · 1 ZIP
81PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Clearfield
Clearfield County · 1 ZIP
47PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Columbia
Lancaster County · 1 ZIP
114PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Downingtown
Chester County · 1 ZIP
83PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Duquesne
Allegheny County · 1 ZIP
123PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Edinboro
Erie County · 2 ZIPs
164PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Elverson
Chester County · 1 ZIP
69PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Emporium
Cameron County · 1 ZIP
44PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Erie
Erie County · 12 ZIPs
83PPM
Range 81–85.5No active flag
Fredericksburg
Lebanon County · 1 ZIP
118PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Glen Rock
York County · 1 ZIP
98PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Horsham
Montgomery County · 2 ZIPs
84PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Houtzdale
Clearfield County · 1 ZIP
47PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Irvona
Clearfield County · 1 ZIP
57PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Johnsonburg
Elk County · 1 ZIP
48PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
Knox
Clarion County · 1 ZIP
164PPM
Single indexed valueNo active flag
County comparison
Highest indexed county medians
| County | Median | Range | ZIP profiles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarion County | 164 PPM | 164–164 | 1 |
| Armstrong County | 155 PPM | 155–155 | 1 |
| Franklin County | 143 PPM | 143–143 | 1 |
| Carbon County | 128 PPM | 127–129 | 2 |
| Allegheny County | 123 PPM | 118–127 | 27 |
| Schuylkill County | 120 PPM | 111–128 | 2 |
| Lebanon County | 118 PPM | 105.5–120 | 3 |
| Cumberland County | 112 PPM | 112–112 | 1 |
| Lancaster County | 111 PPM | 106–116 | 5 |
| Lycoming County | 110 PPM | 108–112 | 2 |
| York County | 108 PPM | 98.2–115 | 4 |
| Dauphin County | 98 PPM | 97.6–97.6 | 1 |