Berea Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
152.4 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 Berea, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Berea | 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 Berea compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Berea, Ohio | 101 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Middleburg Heights, Ohio | 118 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Strongsville, Ohio | 122 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Brook Park, Ohio | 177 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Fairview Park, Ohio | 189 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Berea compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Berea | 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 Berea's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Berea, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County — the Cuyahoga County city adjacent to Brook Park and Strongsville, home of Baldwin Wallace University and the Berea Sandstone (the famous Ohio bluestone used throughout the Great Lakes region) — receives its municipal water from the Cleveland Water Division, drawing from Lake Erie at the Cleveland metropolitan water intakes.
The moderately hard 101 mg/L hardness and TDS of 152.4 mg/L are somewhat softer than many other Cleveland-area Lake Erie supplies (Brook Park: 177 mg/L; Broadview Heights: 174 mg/L), reflecting the Cleveland Water Division treatment plant output variation and Berea's position in the distribution system. All Cleveland-area communities receive the same Lake Erie source water — the Silurian Niagara Dolomite carbonate platform and calcareous Pleistocene Erie Lobe glacial till producing the moderately hard water of the greater Cleveland water system.
At 101 mg/L, Berea'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 3.8 ppt is relatively good for the Cleveland area — the Cleveland industrial corridor, the Lake Erie western basin PFAS load, and the Cuyahoga County manufacturing legacy contribute to Berea's readings, though lower than more urban Cleveland communities.
Geology & Source: Berea in Cuyahoga County draws from the Cleveland Water Division on Lake Erie — Lake Erie receives drainage from the Great Lakes basin (Silurian Niagara Dolomite, Devonian Berea Sandstone, calcareous Pleistocene till) — Lake Erie Great Lakes carbonate and Berea Sandstone drainage produces moderately hard water at 101 mg/L with TDS 152 mg/L in this Cuyahoga County Ohio city.