Dayton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.1 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
169.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.42
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Dayton, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Dayton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -47% |
| Washing Machine | 7.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -35% |
| Water Heater | 9.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -37% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Dayton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dayton, Ohio | 156 mg/L | 94.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Shiloh, Ohio | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Riverside, Ohio | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 10.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Kettering, Ohio | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 66.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| West Carrollton City, Ohio | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Dayton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dayton | 156 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Dayton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The City of Dayton Water Department operates a municipal water utility serving the Dayton metropolitan area in Montgomery County, Ohio. The primary water source is the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer, a regionally significant groundwater system supplying drinking water to over 400,000 residents. Water is treated at the City's treatment plants before distribution through the municipal system. The utility is recognized for its Dayton Well Field Protection Program, the first of its kind approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and internationally recognized for groundwater protection.
Dayton's water originates from the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer, underlain by Ordovician and Silurian carbonate bedrock composed primarily of limestone and dolomite formations. These carbonate rock units are highly soluble; groundwater percolating through them dissolves calcium and magnesium minerals, resulting in a hard water supply. Overlying Quaternary glacial deposits contribute additional mineralization. This geological setting is typical of buried valley aquifer systems in the Midwest, accounting for Dayton's characteristically hard groundwater.
Dayton's water is classified as hard, causing scale buildup on fixtures, appliances, and water heaters, and reducing the efficiency of soaps and detergents, which can lead to dry skin and hair. The utility actively softens the water to improve performance. Cloudy glassware and mineral deposits on faucets are common without additional treatment. A home water softener is often recommended, though the City's treatment process already reduces hardness to manageable levels. The supply meets or exceeds all state and federal standards; fluoride is supplemented to 0.9 mg/L; lead is not detected at measurable levels in distributed water; and over 12,000 water quality tests are conducted annually.
Geology & Source: Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer — Quaternary glacial deposits over Ordovician and Silurian limestone and dolomite carbonate bedrock; calcium and magnesium leach from dissolution-prone limestone strata — yields hard supply
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dayton's water safe to drink?
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How does Dayton compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Dayton is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.