Bedford Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
632.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.65
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 Bedford, your appliances are currently losing 33% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Bedford | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -62% |
| Water Heater | 5.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -61% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Bedford compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bedford, Ohio | 244.5 mg/L | 9.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Maple Heights, Ohio | 213 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Warrensville Heights, Ohio | 116.5 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Garfield Heights, Ohio | 142 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Shaker Heights, Ohio | 188.5 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Bedford compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bedford | 244.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Bedford home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Bedford's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Bedford, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County — a Cuyahoga County city adjacent to Solon and Maple Heights in northeast Ohio — receives its water from the Cleveland Water system, drawing from the Cuyahoga River or Lake Erie (Cuyahoga County) through the northeast Ohio distribution.
The very hard 244.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 632.1 mg/L reflect the northeast Ohio Cuyahoga County Lake Erie supply's very hard dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Devonian Ohio Shale drainage produce very hard water typical of the northeast Ohio communities on the Lake Erie-Cuyahoga supply (compare Powell OH: 237/599; Connersville IN: 231/539; Bedford among the harder Cuyahoga County draws from the deep dolomite contact). The Lake Erie-Cuyahoga at Cuyahoga County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Ohio Shale (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Great Lakes drift (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 244.5 mg/L with TDS 632, Bedford's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended to prevent rapid scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 9.6 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Cuyahoga County northeast Ohio industrial corridor contribute to Bedford's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Bedford in Cuyahoga County draws from the Cleveland Water on the Cuyahoga River or Lake Erie (Cuyahoga County, northeast Ohio) — Lake Erie at Cuyahoga County is fed by the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Devonian Ohio Shale (calcareous) drainage — Ohio Cuyahoga County Cuyahoga River-Lake Erie Silurian-Devonian dolomitic supply produces very hard water at 244.5 mg/L with TDS 632.1 mg/L.