New Castle Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.1 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
185 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.33
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 New Castle, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In New Castle | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -34% |
| Washing Machine | 9.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -24% |
| Water Heater | 10.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -29% |
Regional Water Comparison
How New Castle compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ New Castle, Indiana | 122 mg/L | 3.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Muncie, Indiana | 207.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Anderson, Indiana | 130 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Connersville, Indiana | 231 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Greenfield, Indiana | 207 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How New Castle compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ New Castle | 122 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes New Castle's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
New Castle, Indiana, in Henry County — the Henry County seat adjacent to Spiceland and Knightstown on the Blue River in east-central Indiana — receives its municipal water from the New Castle Water Division, drawing from the Blue River (Henry County) and supplemented by groundwater wells in the Williamsburg aquifer.
The moderately hard 122 mg/L hardness and TDS of 185 mg/L reflect the east-central Indiana Till Plain's calcareous character — softer than the Wabash corridor communities (Logansport: 143 mg/L) due to the smaller drainage basin. The Blue River in Henry County drains the Indiana Till Plain — calcareous Pleistocene Woodfordian till (ground-up Silurian dolomite and Devonian limestone), Silurian Niagara Dolomite (dolomite aquifer — significant recharge carbonate), and Devonian Delaware Limestone (the primary bedrock carbonate beneath Henry County).
At 122 mg/L, New Castle'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 3.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Henry County agricultural corridor (PFAS from field applications in the east-central Indiana corn belt), and the Indiana Till Plain PFAS background contribute to New Castle's readings at relatively low levels.
Geology & Source: New Castle in Henry County draws from the New Castle Water Division on the Blue River (Henry County, east-central Indiana) — the Blue River drains the Indiana Till Plain (Silurian Niagara Dolomite, Devonian Delaware Limestone, calcareous Pleistocene Woodfordian till) — Indiana Henry County Blue River Silurian-Devonian carbonate watershed produces moderately hard water at 122 mg/L with TDS 185 mg/L in this Henry County Indiana city.