How does North Canton's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. North Canton (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

North Canton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

8.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

582.1 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 North Canton, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In North Canton	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 North Canton compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ North Canton, Ohio	≈ 180+ mg/L	9.2 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Canton, Ohio	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Green, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	12.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Massillon, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
New Franklin, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How North Canton compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ North Canton	≈ 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 North Canton's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 582.1 mg/LpH: 8.5

The North Canton City Public Water Supply (PWSID OH7604312), operated by the City of North Canton Drinking Water Plant at 145 North Main St., serves North Canton and surrounding areas in Stark County, Ohio. All water is sourced exclusively from groundwater aquifers — specifically the Buried Valley Aquifer and the Massillon Sandstone Aquifer. Treatment at the city's dedicated plant employs conventional filtration, softening, and hypochlorite disinfection. The utility can be reached at 330-499-8223 or 330-499-6473 for reports or service inquiries.

North Canton's supply originates from the Buried Valley Aquifer and Massillon Sandstone Aquifer within the glaciated Tuscarawas River watershed of the Appalachian Plateau physiographic province. The Buried Valley features Pleistocene glacial outwash sands and gravels overlying bedrock, while the Massillon Sandstone is a Pennsylvanian-age formation of quartz-rich sandstones with carbonate cementation. Calcium- and magnesium-bearing minerals from dolomite and limestone inclusions dissolve into the supply, yielding a hard character further concentrated by karst-influenced fractures and high regional recharge.

Very hard water promotes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, coffee makers, and showerheads, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Spots on glassware and reduced soap lathering are common, increasing detergent use. Regular vinegar descaling of fixtures, installing sediment pre-filters, and flushing water heaters annually are advised. A whole-house water softener — ideally an ion-exchange system — is strongly recommended given the groundwater's mineral load. The 2021 Consumer Confidence Report confirms full EPA compliance, with zero lead samples exceeding 15 ppb (0/46) and zero copper exceeding 1.3 ppm (0/46).

Geology & Source: Buried Valley Aquifer (Pleistocene glacial outwash) and Massillon Sandstone Aquifer (Pennsylvanian Pottsville Group), Stark County — limestone and dolomite lenses dissolve to yield hard groundwater in the glaciated Appalachian Plateau

Other Ohio Water Reports

Canton

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Green

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Massillon

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

New Franklin

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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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 North Canton's water safe to drink?

Yes. North Canton'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 North Canton?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), North Canton'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 North Canton compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. North Canton (≈ 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 North Canton 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.