Worthington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
528 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.59
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 Worthington, your appliances are currently losing 29% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Worthington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -73% |
| Washing Machine | 5.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -54% |
| Water Heater | 6.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -55% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Worthington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Worthington, Ohio | 220 mg/L | 8.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Powell, Ohio | 237 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Westerville, Ohio | 162.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Dublin, Ohio | 105.5 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Upper Arlington, Ohio | 209.5 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Worthington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Worthington | 220 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Worthington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Worthington, Ohio, in Franklin County — a Franklin County city adjacent to Columbus and Dublin in the north Columbus metro — receives its water from the Columbus Division of Water, drawing from the Scioto River (Franklin County) through the Columbus metro distribution.
The very hard 220 mg/L hardness and TDS of 528 mg/L reflect the central Ohio Columbus Scioto River supply's very hard Till Plains calcareous character — consistent with other Columbus metro Franklin County communities (Dublin: ~215 mg/L; Upper Arlington: ~220 mg/L). The Scioto River at Columbus drains the Ohio Till Plains — Ordovician Trenton Limestone (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Columbus Limestone (calcareous — secondary contributor), Silurian Tymochtee Dolomite (dolomitic — TDS contributor), and Quaternary glacial till (calcareous — derived from Ordovician-Devonian carbonate bedrock). The Ordovician-Devonian calcareous limestone dissolution produces the very hard Columbus metro supply.
At 220 mg/L with TDS 528, Worthington's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 8.6 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base (Franklin County — AFFF) and the central Ohio Columbus industrial corridor contribute to Worthington's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Worthington in Franklin County draws from the Columbus Division of Water on the Scioto River (Franklin County, central Ohio) — the Scioto River at Columbus drains the Ohio Till Plains (Ordovician Trenton Limestone — calcareous, Devonian Columbus Limestone — calcareous) — Ohio Franklin County Scioto River Ohio Till Plains calcareous watershed produces very hard water at 220 mg/L with TDS 528 mg/L.