The Glebe Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
lake
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
187.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.24
energy & soap waste
Source: Health Canada Water Quality · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In The Glebe, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In The Glebe | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -22% |
| Washing Machine | 10.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -15% |
| Water Heater | 11.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -21% |
Regional Water Comparison
How The Glebe compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ The Glebe, Ontario | 91.5 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Ottawa, Ontario | 88 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Ottawa South, Ontario | 124 mg/L | High | 🟠 Hard |
| Centretown, Ontario | 116.5 mg/L | High | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Lowertown, Ontario | 135.5 mg/L | High | 🟠 Hard |
National Benchmark
How The Glebe compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ The Glebe | 91.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes The Glebe's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The Glebe's drinking water is managed by the City of Ottawa, drawing from the Ottawa River via the Britannia Water Purification Plant — The Glebe is one of Ottawa's most sought-after residential and commercial neighbourhoods, stretching along Bank Street from the Queensway to the Rideau Canal at Lansdowne Park, a vibrant urban village of century homes, boutique shopping and restaurants on Bank Street, the TD Place Lansdowne stadium and entertainment district, and the intimate treelined streets of Second to Fifth Avenues beloved by diplomats, politicians, and professionals who form the Glebe's distinctly progressive and cosmopolitan community character. Water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, meeting all Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) requirements. Hardness measures 91.5 mg/L (5.3 gpg) — classified as moderately hard by Health Canada, at the softer end of the Ottawa distribution range.
The Glebe's 91.5 mg/L is notably softer than the standard Ottawa River supply (116–120 mg/L from reference data), reflecting this south Ottawa sub-zone's specific Britannia plant distribution routing. The Ottawa River at the Britannia intake carries dissolved Ordovician carbonate from the Ottawa Valley, producing the moderate mineral content typical of Ottawa water. The Glebe sub-zone at the Rideau Canal corridor appears to receive a softer portion of the Britannia distribution, contrasting with the harder east Ottawa sub-zones (Lowertown 135.5 mg/L, Blossom Park 132.5 mg/L from reference data).
At 91.5 mg/L, The Glebe homes experience light scale deposits — cleaning every two months is adequate. Hot water tanks have a reliable operational lifespan. The City of Ottawa provides water quality information at ottawa.ca/water. Health Canada lead precautionary guidance applies to The Glebe's substantial Victorian and Edwardian housing stock, where pre-1975 lead service connections are common in the heritage homes of Second through Fifth Avenues and the Bank Street corridor.
Geology & Source: Supplied by City of Ottawa from the Ottawa River via the Britannia Water Purification Plant — the Glebe south Ottawa Rideau Canal distribution sub-zone records moderately hard supply at 91.5 mg/L (5.3 gpg), at the softer end of the Ottawa distribution range.