Steubenville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.4 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
173.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.29
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 Steubenville, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Steubenville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -29% |
| Washing Machine | 9.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -21% |
| Water Heater | 11.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -25% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Steubenville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Steubenville, Ohio | 110 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Weirton, West Virginia | 194 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Weirton Heights, West Virginia | 194.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Wheeling, West Virginia | 197 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Washington, Pennsylvania | 150 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Steubenville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Steubenville | 110 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Steubenville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Steubenville, Ohio, in Jefferson County — the Jefferson County seat adjacent to Weirton, WV and Wintersville on the Ohio River in the Upper Ohio Valley, a historic steel-production city in east Ohio — receives its municipal water from the Steubenville Water Division, drawing from the Ohio River at the Steubenville treatment plant on the Jefferson County riverfront.
The moderately hard 110 mg/L hardness and TDS of 173.6 mg/L are typical for the Upper Ohio River corridor at the Pennsylvania-Ohio border — softer than the Cincinnati Ohio River (230+ mg/L) but reflecting the same Appalachian Plateau carbonate drainage. The Ohio River at Steubenville receives drainage from the Appalachian Plateau — Pennsylvanian Conemaugh Group (calcareous limestone interbeds), Devonian Onondaga Limestone, and calcareous Pleistocene Allegheny Plateau till — producing the moderately hard water characteristic of the Upper Ohio Valley supply.
At 110 mg/L, Steubenville's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 4.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Steubenville steel and industrial legacy (Jefferson County heavy industry), the Upper Ohio River industrial PFAS background (Pittsburgh corridor upstream), and the northeast Ohio PFAS complex contribute to Steubenville's readings.
Geology & Source: Steubenville in Jefferson County draws from the Steubenville Water Division on the Ohio River (Jefferson County, Upper Ohio Valley) — the Upper Ohio River drains the Appalachian Plateau (Pennsylvanian Conemaugh Group sandstone-limestone, Devonian Onondaga Limestone) — Ohio Upper Ohio Valley Pennsylvanian-Devonian carbonate drainage produces moderately hard water at 110 mg/L with TDS 173.6 mg/L in this Jefferson County Ohio city.