Portsmouth Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
482.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Portsmouth, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Portsmouth | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -20% |
| Washing Machine | 9.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -20% |
| Water Heater | 12 yrs | 15 yrs | -20% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Portsmouth compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Portsmouth, Ohio | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Ironton, Ohio | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 28.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Meads, Kentucky | 239.5 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Ashland, Kentucky | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 31.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Chillicothe, Ohio | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 3.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Portsmouth compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Portsmouth | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Portsmouth's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Portsmouth Public Water System (PWID: CNOH019600) serves Portsmouth, Ohio and surrounding areas in Scioto County in southern Ohio. The utility operates water treatment facilities including a plant at 4862 Gallia Street and draws from local surface and groundwater sources within the Ohio River watershed. The system maintains a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) published annually, with the 2024 report available through the city's official channels.
The Portsmouth water supply is influenced by the Ohio River watershed and the underlying Ordovician and Silurian carbonate geology of southern Ohio. The region's limestone and dolomite formations are highly soluble, causing groundwater and surface water sources to dissolve significant quantities of calcium and magnesium minerals as they percolate through or flow over these rock layers. This geological setting produces a characteristically hard water supply typical of the Ohio River basin and Appalachian region.
Portsmouth's hard water supply presents typical challenges for household use. Scale buildup will occur in kettles, coffee makers, dishwashers, and water heaters; soap and detergent efficiency is reduced, requiring higher doses for effective cleaning; and laundry may appear dingy or stiff. Residents should consider point-of-use or whole-house water softening systems, regular descaling of appliances, and use of commercial limescale removers for maintenance. According to third-party water quality data, Portsmouth's water contains 9 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines (MCLGs), including dichloroacetic acid and antimony, though the utility reports zero MCL violations. Residents are advised to consult the official 2024 CCR or contact the utility at 740-456-4946 for complete contaminant and treatment details.
Geology & Source: Scioto County, Ohio River watershed; Ordovician and Silurian limestone and dolomite formations typical of southern Ohio carbonate geology — soluble carbonate rocks dissolve readily, introducing calcium and magnesium that produce a hard water supply
Other Ohio Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portsmouth's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Portsmouth?
How does Portsmouth compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Portsmouth is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.