New Philadelphia Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

159 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · est.

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 New Philadelphia, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In New Philadelphia	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How New Philadelphia compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ New Philadelphia, Ohio	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Dover, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Massillon, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Canton, Ohio	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
North Canton, Ohio	≈ 180+ mg/L	9.2 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How New Philadelphia compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ New Philadelphia	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes New Philadelphia's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 159 mg/LpH: 7.9

The New Philadelphia City PWS, operated by the City of New Philadelphia Water Department, provides drinking water to approximately 17,410 residents in New Philadelphia and surrounding areas of Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The utility draws from groundwater sources at facilities located at 310 Mill Ave. SW, using filtration, ionic exchange, and chlorine disinfection. Treatment is conducted under Safe Drinking Water Act oversight, with compliance data available through the annual Water Quality Report published by the department and accessible via newphiladelphiaoh.gov.

The supply originates in the Tuscarawas River watershed, part of the larger Muskingum River basin draining into the Ohio River. Groundwater is extracted from aquifers hosted in Pennsylvanian and Mississippian sedimentary formations, including the Allegheny and Pottsville Group sandstones and conglomerates overlying Cuyahoga Group limestones within the Appalachian Basin. These carbonate and siliciclastic rocks contribute dissolved calcium and magnesium via karst features and fractures, resulting in a characteristically hard supply.

Very hard water leads to significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Appliances may require 2–3 times more maintenance, with visible deposits on fixtures and reduced soap lathering. A water softener is strongly recommended alongside regular descaling of heating elements and vinegar soaks for faucets. The 2023 Water Quality Report confirms no violations, with average pH at 7.8 meeting federal and state standards; treatment includes filtration, ionic exchange softening, and chlorination.

Geology & Source: Appalachian Basin, Tuscarawas County; Pennsylvanian Allegheny and Pottsville Group sandstones over Mississippian Cuyahoga Group limestones — karst leaching of calcium and magnesium yields hard water

Other Ohio Water Reports

Dover

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Massillon

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Canton

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

North Canton

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New Philadelphia's water safe to drink?

Yes. New Philadelphia's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in New Philadelphia?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), New Philadelphia's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 45%.

How does New Philadelphia compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. New Philadelphia (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for New Philadelphia is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

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.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

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.

Measured

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.

Modelled

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.

Calculated

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.