Mansfield Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.2 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
480.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.55
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 Mansfield, your appliances are currently losing 28% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Mansfield | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -68% |
| Washing Machine | 5.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -51% |
| Water Heater | 7.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -51% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Mansfield compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mansfield, Ohio | 208 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Ashland, Ohio | 196.5 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Mount Vernon, Ohio | 176.5 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Norwalk, Ohio | 257.5 mg/L | 10.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Wooster, Ohio | 217.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Mansfield compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mansfield | 208 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Mansfield's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Mansfield, Ohio, the Richland County seat in north-central Ohio — a major north-central Ohio manufacturing city known as the 'Fun City,' birthplace of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), home of the Ohio State Reformatory (a National Historic Landmark and filming location for The Shawshank Redemption), Kingwood Center Gardens, and historically important for Westinghouse Electric and Mansfield Tire — draws its municipal water supply from Charles Mill Lake (Mohican River) via the City of Mansfield Water Division. Water hardness in Mansfield measures 208 mg/L — classified as very hard.
Mansfield's very hard supply reflects the Mohican River's calcareous north-central Ohio Paleozoic geology. The Mohican River watershed above Charles Mill Lake drains: Richland County Wisconsin Age calcareous glacial till (Silurian–Devonian calcareous till from the Laurentide Ice Sheet Lake Erie Lobe — highly calcareous glacial material from the Devonian Columbus Limestone and Silurian Niagara Dolomite terrain); the Devonian Columbus Limestone and Delaware Limestone (highly calcareous marine limestone — the principal calcareous formation at subcrop depth in Richland County); and Pennsylvanian calcareous cyclothemic limestone at shallow depths in the eastern Richland County area. The calcareous Wisconsin glacial till and Devonian limestone subcrop produce the very hard 208 mg/L at Mansfield.
At 208 mg/L, Mansfield residents face significant hard water challenges. Scale deposits form rapidly on all fixtures and tile — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is essential maintenance. City of Mansfield Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Ohio EPA and federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Charles Mill Lake and Mohican River watershed via the City of Mansfield Water Division — the Richland County central Ohio Appalachian Plateau (Pennsylvanian–Devonian calcareous platform calcareous Ohio Paleozoic bedrock at moderate depth); very hard supply at 208 mg/L — reflecting the Mohican River's calcareous central Ohio geology.