Middletown Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.6 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
275.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.39
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 Middletown, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Middletown | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -45% |
| Washing Machine | 8.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -33% |
| Water Heater | 9.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -35% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Middletown compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Middletown, Ohio | 148 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Monroe, Ohio | 166 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Springboro, Ohio | 104.5 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Miamisburg, Ohio | 143.5 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Mason, Ohio | 113 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Middletown compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Middletown | 148 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Middletown's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Middletown, Ohio, in Butler County on the Great Miami River between Cincinnati and Dayton — an industrial city historically known for AK Steel (Armco Steel) and papermaking, the subject of J.D. Vance's memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy' (Vance grew up in Middletown, bringing national attention to Ohio's deindustrialization and opioid crisis) — draws its municipal water supply from the Great Miami River alluvial well field via the City of Middletown Water Division. Water hardness in Middletown measures 148 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Middletown's moderate hardness reflects the Great Miami River Valley's calcareous Ohio geology. The Great Miami River Valley aquifer at Middletown consists of: Quaternary glacial outwash of the Miami Valley (calcareous-moderate alluvial sand and gravel recharged from the Silurian–Ordovician calcareous dolomite subcropping in the Miami Valley walls — the Silurian Niagara Dolomite and Ordovician Trenton Limestone providing calcareous groundwater to the valley fill); and Great Miami River bank filtrate (moderately calcareous). The Great Miami Valley alluvial well field infiltration produces the moderate 148 mg/L — characteristic of the Southwest Ohio Miami Valley supply.
At 148 mg/L, Middletown residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. City of Middletown Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Ohio EPA and federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Great Miami River via the City of Middletown Water Division — the Butler County Great Miami River Valley (Silurian–Ordovician calcareous dolomite and limestone subcrop in the Miami Valley); moderately hard supply at 148 mg/L — reflecting the Great Miami River calcareous aquifer supply in the Butler County Middletown zone.