Wooster Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.7 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
518.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.58
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 Wooster, your appliances are currently losing 29% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Wooster | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -72% |
| Washing Machine | 5.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -53% |
| Water Heater | 6.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -54% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Wooster compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wooster, Ohio | 217.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Wadsworth, Ohio | 102 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Medina, Ohio | 257 mg/L | 10.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Ashland, Ohio | 196.5 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Barberton, Ohio | 223.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Wooster compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wooster | 217.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Wooster's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Wooster, Ohio, the Wayne County seat — a major north-central Ohio agricultural and college city (Wooster is the Wayne County seat — one of the most important small cities in north-central Ohio; Wooster is known as the heart of the Ohio Amish Country corridor (the Wayne–Holmes County area is one of the most densely populated Amish and Mennonite communities in the United States — Holmes County immediately south of Wayne County has the largest Amish community in the world; Wooster is the primary commercial and medical hub for this agricultural and Amish heritage region)); Wooster is the home of the College of Wooster (one of the most respected liberal arts colleges in Ohio — the College of Wooster's senior Independent Study program is one of the most distinguished undergraduate research programs in the country) and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (the OARDC — one of the most important agricultural research institutions in the Midwest), a diverse Wayne County community with a primarily Amish-heritage, agricultural, college, and working-class to middle-class north Ohio population — draws its municipal water supply via the City of Wooster Water Division. Water hardness in Wooster measures 217.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
Wooster's hard supply reflects the north-central Ohio Wayne County glaciated limestone aquifer's calcareous character. The Killbuck Creek and Rathburn Reservoir draws from Devonian calcareous Ohio limestone and glacial till, with limited softening producing the hard 217.5 mg/L.
At 217.5 mg/L, Wooster residents face regular hard water challenges. Monthly descaling and water softeners are recommended. City of Wooster Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Ohio EPA and federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Killbuck Creek and Rathburn Reservoir via the City of Wooster Water Division — the Wayne County north-central Ohio Wooster corridor (Devonian calcareous Ohio limestone and Glacial till — the calcareous north-central Ohio Wayne County glaciated limestone aquifer; limited softening); hard supply at 217.5 mg/L in Wayne County.