How does Struthers's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Struthers (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Struthers Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

7.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

206 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Struthers, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Struthers	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 Struthers compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Struthers, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Boardman, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Youngstown, Ohio	≈ 180+ mg/L	55.8 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Austintown, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Niles, Ohio	≈ 120–179 mg/L	29 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Struthers compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Struthers	≈ 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 Struthers's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 206 mg/LpH: 7.7

AQUA Ohio operates the Struthers water utility in Mahoning County, Ohio, providing service to 58,551 residents. The water originates from surface sources within the Mahoning River watershed. Treatment facilities, employing filtration and softening, prepare the water for distribution, with chloramines serving as the primary disinfectant. The utility's main office is located at 100 South Bridge Street, Building N, Struthers, OH 44471.

The underlying geology of Struthers is characteristic of northeastern Ohio's glaciated Appalachian region. Sedimentary rocks from the Pennsylvanian age, including sandstones, shales, and coal seams, form the bedrock. This is further complicated by overlying glacial deposits. The interaction of these glacial materials and the weathering of carbonate-rich bedrock introduces substantial amounts of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, into the water supply, leading to its notably hard nature.

This hard water supply means homeowners and businesses in Struthers will likely notice scale buildup forming on fixtures, in kettles, and particularly within water heaters and dishwashers, diminishing their efficiency and shortening their operational lives. You'll also find that soaps and detergents don't lather as readily, requiring more product for cleaning. Many residents opt for water softeners, either whole-house systems or point-of-use units, to combat these issues. Regular maintenance of appliances and consideration of a softening system are smart moves for managing costs and appliance longevity.

Geology & Source: Appalachian Basin Pennsylvanian sandstones, shales, and coal; glacial deposits and carbonate bedrock weathering produce hard water

Other Ohio Water Reports

Boardman

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Youngstown

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Austintown

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Niles

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

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 Struthers's water safe to drink?

Yes. Struthers's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Struthers?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Struthers'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 20%.

How does Struthers compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Struthers (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Struthers 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.