How does Ashland's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Ashland (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

Ashland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

8.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

437.1 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · est.

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 Ashland, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Ashland	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Ashland compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Ashland, Ohio	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Mansfield, Ohio	105 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
Wooster, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	40.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Norwalk, Ohio	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Galion, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	12.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Ashland compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Ashland	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Ashland's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 437.1 mg/LpH: 8.2

The City of Ashland operates the Ashland Water Treatment Facility, serving Ashland, Ohio (ZIP 44805) and surrounding Ashland County communities, including the Green Acres MHP utility. The supply is sourced entirely from groundwater aquifers within local recharge zones, with no reliance on surface rivers or reservoirs. The municipal plant treats all water to meet EPA standards; over 62 tested contaminants comply with Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, as confirmed in reports accessible via the city's official site.

Recharge zones lie within Ashland County's glacial and bedrock terrain. Underlying Devonian limestone and dolomite formations — including the Columbus Limestone — characterize the geology, imparting a hard supply through natural dissolution of calcium and magnesium minerals as water percolates through karst features and fractures. This mineralized profile is typical of Ohio's interior aquifers, where Paleozoic carbonate rock weathering shapes water chemistry toward elevated mineral content.

Hard water poses significant scale buildup risks to plumbing pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Regular flushing and vinegar descaling for fixtures help manage mineral deposits. A water softener is strongly recommended for households to prevent costly repairs and extend appliance durability. Tap water is safe, meeting all EPA health guidelines with no exceedances noted; no PFAS or notable contaminants reported, with treatment including standard groundwater disinfection processes.

Geology & Source: Ashland County glacial till and bedrock aquifers; Devonian Columbus Limestone and dolomite dissolve calcium and magnesium through karst features — hard groundwater typical of north-central Ohio carbonate geology

Other Ohio Water Reports

Mansfield

105 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Wooster

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Norwalk

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Galion

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ashland's water safe to drink?

Yes. Ashland's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Ashland?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Ashland's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 45%.

How does Ashland compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Ashland (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Ashland is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.