Stow Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
192.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.31
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 Stow, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Stow | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -33% |
| Washing Machine | 9.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -23% |
| Water Heater | 10.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -27% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Stow compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Stow, Ohio | 118 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio | 221 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Tallmadge, Ohio | 146 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Hudson, Ohio | 147.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Kent, Ohio | 232.5 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Stow compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Stow | 118 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Stow's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Stow, Ohio, in Summit County — a major northeast Ohio Akron suburban community (Stow is one of Summit County's most significant suburban communities north of Akron — a primarily residential community with a significant manufacturing and professional population in the Akron north suburban corridor), home of Stow-Munroe Falls High School (a combined school district serving both Stow and Munroe Falls — one of the larger northeast Ohio high schools), a diverse Summit County community with a significant Appalachian heritage, Polish-American, and working-class professional population, and a community in the historically significant rubber and polymer industry corridor (Summit County–Akron was the 'Rubber Capital of the World' in the early 20th century) — draws its municipal water supply from the Cuyahoga River via the City of Stow Water Division. Water hardness in Stow measures 118 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Stow's moderate hardness reflects the northeast Ohio Cuyahoga River watershed's calcareous-moderate Allegheny Plateau geology. The Cuyahoga River at Stow–Summit County drains: the Pennsylvanian Allegheny Group (calcareous-poor coal-bearing shale and sandstone); the Devonian Berea Sandstone and Bedford Shale (calcareous-moderate); and the Wisconsin Age calcareous Erie Lobe till (carbonate-rich glacial till). City of Stow treatment produces the moderate 118 mg/L.
At 118 mg/L, Stow residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is recommended. City of Stow Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Ohio EPA and federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Cuyahoga River (Munroe Falls Reservoir) via the City of Stow Water Division — the Summit County northeast Ohio Cuyahoga River Valley (Pennsylvanian calcareous-poor coal-bearing shale and Devonian–Mississippian calcareous-moderate Ohio Shale and Berea Sandstone — the northeast Ohio Allegheny Plateau; Summit County Cuyahoga watershed supply); moderately hard supply at 118 mg/L in Summit County.