Sidney Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
488.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.56
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 Sidney, your appliances are currently losing 28% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Sidney | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -68% |
| Washing Machine | 5.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -52% |
| Water Heater | 7.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -52% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Sidney compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sidney, Ohio | 210 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Piqua, Ohio | 204 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Troy, Ohio | 191.5 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Vandalia, Ohio | 217.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bellefontaine, Ohio | 253 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Sidney compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sidney | 210 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Sidney's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Sidney, Ohio, in Shelby County — the Shelby County seat on the Great Miami River in west-central Ohio, an industrial city with Emerson Climate Technologies (formerly Copeland Compressors) manufacturing heritage and the broader west-central Ohio manufacturing corridor — receives its municipal water from Sidney Water Works, which draws from the Great Miami River at the Sidney intake. The Great Miami River is the primary drinking water source for the west-central Ohio Miami Valley corridor.
The hard 210 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 488.6 mg/L reflect the Great Miami River watershed's western Ohio dolomite carbonate geology. The Great Miami River drains the Western Ohio Till Plain — one of the flattest and most heavily glaciated landscapes in the eastern US, underlain by the Silurian Lockport Dolomite (the same Niagara Dolomite sequence responsible for hard water throughout the Great Lakes region), the Devonian Columbus Limestone, and the Devonian Delaware Limestone. These ancient Silurian-Devonian dolomite and limestone formations are covered by thick Pleistocene glacial till rich in calcareous fragments. The Great Miami River consistently carries the dissolved mineral signature of the Ohio dolomite platform, producing hard finished water throughout the Miami Valley — one of the most carbonate-rich river supply zones in Ohio.
At 210 mg/L, Sidney's water is hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances within weeks, dishwashers require rinse aid or softener salt, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium encrustation. Monthly descaling of heating appliances is practical. A water softener is recommended for Sidney households. The PFAS level of 8.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton — the US Air Force's primary research and logistics base, a major AFFF user) in the Great Miami watershed upstream is a direct PFAS source, and the broader Dayton-Miami Valley industrial corridor contributes to Shelby County's elevated PFAS reading.
Geology & Source: Sidney in Shelby County draws from Sidney Water Works treating the Great Miami River — the Great Miami River in Shelby County drains the Western Ohio Till Plain (Pleistocene glacial till over Silurian Lockport Dolomite and Devonian carbonates of the Ohio dolomite platform) — Silurian dolomite and glacial carbonate till drainage produces hard water at 210 mg/L with elevated TDS 489 mg/L in this Shelby County Ohio city.