Brookside Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.9 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
265 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.27
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · 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 Brookside, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Brookside | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -26% |
| Washing Machine | 9.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Brookside compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Brookside, Delaware | 101 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Newark, Delaware | 81 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Glasgow, Delaware | 151.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Bear, Delaware | 85 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Elkton, Maryland | 169 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Brookside compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Brookside | 101 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Brookside's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Brookside, Delaware, in New Castle County — an unincorporated New Castle County community adjacent to Newark and Pike Creek in northern Delaware — receives its water from the Artesian Water Company of Delaware, drawing from the Christina River and local New Castle County groundwater (New Castle County) through the northern Delaware distribution.
The moderately hard 101 mg/L hardness and TDS of 265 mg/L reflect the northern Delaware New Castle County supply's moderate Piedmont-Coastal Plain calcareous character — consistent with other New Castle County communities (Glasgow DE: 151.5 mg/L at the Coastal Plain position; Brookside at the Piedmont fringe position is softer). The New Castle County watershed drains the Delaware Piedmont — Precambrian Brandywine Gneiss (insoluble), Precambrian Wissahickon Formation (slightly calcareous), Cretaceous Potomac Formation (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor at the Coastal Plain margin), and Quaternary alluvium (slightly calcareous).
At 101 mg/L, Brookside's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Dover Air Force Base (Kent County — AFFF) and the northern Delaware Wilmington industrial corridor contribute to Brookside's readings.
Geology & Source: Brookside in New Castle County draws from the Artesian Water Company on the Christina River and New Castle County groundwater (New Castle County, northern Delaware) — the watershed drains the Piedmont (Precambrian Brandywine Gneiss — insoluble) and Coastal Plain (Cretaceous Potomac Formation — slightly calcareous) — Delaware New Castle County Christina River Piedmont-Coastal Plain watershed produces moderately hard water at 101 mg/L with TDS 265 mg/L.