Hardness
Soft
44.3 PPM · 2.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Towanda, PA 18848
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Bradford County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Towanda Municipal Authority
- Source water
- Groundwater influenced by surface water
- County
- Bradford County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0079 mg/L
53% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 5,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
44.3 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
44.3
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 44.3 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
82
Nearest site
3 mi
Observation range
Jan 4, 2016–Jun 2, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Sugar Creek near North Towanda, PA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 18848 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Towanda median
44 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 44.3–44.3 PPM
Pennsylvania median
84 PPM
40 PPM lower139 indexed ZIP readings · Range 43–166.5 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0079 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0079
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 50
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | PA2080029 | Resolved | Jan 11, 2026through Mar 3, 2026 |
| Public Notice | PA2080029 | Resolved | Jan 11, 2026through Mar 3, 2026 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA2080029 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | PA2080029 | Resolved | Oct 11, 2025through Nov 26, 2025 |
| Public Notice | PA2080029 | Resolved | Oct 11, 2025through Nov 26, 2025 |
| TTHM | PA2080029 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | PA2080029 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA2080029 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | PA2080029 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA2080029 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA2080029 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | PA2080029 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHM | PA2080029 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHM | PA2080029 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | PA2080029 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | PA2080029 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA2080029 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Apr 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | PA2080029 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA2080029 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Public Notice | PA2080029 | Resolved | Feb 13, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Towanda ZIP 18848 using 44.3 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Towanda
Is tap water safe in Towanda?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 44.3 PPM, or 2.6 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.