Forest Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.2 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
627.5 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 Forest Park, your appliances are currently losing 32% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Forest Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -81% |
| Washing Machine | 4.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -62% |
| Water Heater | 5.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -61% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Forest Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forest Park, Ohio | 243.5 mg/L | 9.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Fairfield, Ohio | 195 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Finneytown, Ohio | 217.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Sharonville, Ohio | 214.5 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| White Oak, Ohio | 128 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Forest Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forest Park | 243.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Forest Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Forest Park, Ohio, in Hamilton County — a Hamilton County city adjacent to Springdale and Cincinnati in the northwest Cincinnati corridor, a northern Hamilton County suburban community — receives its municipal water from the Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW), drawing from the Ohio River at the GCWW Richard Miller Treatment Plant on the Mill Creek-Ohio River system in Hamilton County.
The hard 243.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 627.5 mg/L are among the highest in the greater Cincinnati metro — harder than the White Oak Cincinnati reading (128 mg/L, TDS 219) and harder than Erlanger KY (121 mg/L). This reflects the Forest Park distribution zone's position in the GCWW system, with some seasonal and distribution variation in the Ohio River supply. The Ohio River at Cincinnati carries the full Appalachian Plateau and Cincinnati Arch carbonate load — the Ordovician Cincinnatian Group limestone (dense carbonate platform), Devonian Ohio Shale (calcareous), and calcareous Pleistocene till — producing the hard water.
At 243.5 mg/L, Forest Park's water is hard — scale builds rapidly in appliances and plumbing. A water softener is strongly recommended. The PFAS level of 9.6 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the Greater Cincinnati industrial corridor (Mill Creek Valley Superfund — one of the most industrially contaminated valleys in Ohio), the Ohio River PFAS industrial legacy, and the Hamilton County northwest manufacturing corridor contribute to Forest Park's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Forest Park in Hamilton County draws from the Greater Cincinnati Water Works on the Ohio River (Hamilton County) — the Ohio River at Cincinnati drains the Appalachian Plateau and Cincinnati Arch (Ordovician Cincinnatian limestone) — Ohio River Ordovician Cincinnati Arch carbonate drainage produces hard water at 243.5 mg/L with high TDS 628 mg/L in this Hamilton County Ohio suburb.