Hardness
Hard
166.5 PPM · 9.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Waterford, PA 16441
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Erie County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Waterford Municipal Authority
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Erie 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
0.0011 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 1,700 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
166.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
166.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
9.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 166.5 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
64
Nearest site
5.2 mi
Observation range
Jun 14, 2016–May 29, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: ER 82 Erie County Observation Well (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 16441 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Waterford median
167 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 166.5–166.5 PPM
Pennsylvania median
84 PPM
83 PPM higher139 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)
0.0011 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1996
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 0.0011
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 29
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Nov 26, 2025 |
| Chlorine | PA6250065 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | PA6250065 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | PA6250065 | Resolved | Mar 11, 2025through May 15, 2025 |
| Chlorine | PA6250065 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | May 1, 2024through May 31, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2024through Feb 29, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | PA6250065 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through May 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | PA6250065 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2023through Feb 28, 2023 |
| Chlorine | PA6250065 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2023through Feb 28, 2023 |
| Groundwater Rule | PA6250065 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | PA6250065 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
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 Waterford ZIP 16441 using 166.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
166.5 PPM is 1× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsAffiliate 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 Waterford
Is tap water safe in Waterford?+
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 166.5 PPM, or 9.7 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 166.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.