Back Mountain Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
230.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.33
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 Back Mountain, your appliances are currently losing 17% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Back Mountain | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -35% |
| Washing Machine | 9 yrs | 12 yrs | -25% |
| Water Heater | 10.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -29% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Back Mountain compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Back Mountain, Pennsylvania | 124.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Kingston, Pennsylvania | 91.5 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | 93 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Scranton, Pennsylvania | 206 mg/L | 10.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Dunmore, Pennsylvania | 177.5 mg/L | 9.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Back Mountain compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Back Mountain | 124.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Back Mountain's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Back Mountain, Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County — a major northeast Pennsylvania Anthracite Region suburban community (Back Mountain is a significant Luzerne County unincorporated community — a northeast Pennsylvania suburb comprising several townships (Dallas, Lehman, Jackson, and Kingston townships) situated on the mountainous plateau west of Wilkes-Barre; the Back Mountain area is known for Harveys Lake (the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania — Harveys Lake is a significant recreational and residential lake community at the heart of the Back Mountain region; the lake is a major boating, fishing, and waterfront property destination for the northeast Pennsylvania region)); Back Mountain is an important suburban residential area for the greater Wilkes-Barre and Scranton metropolitan area (the Back Mountain area has grown as an attractive suburban destination for families seeking lower density and natural amenities while maintaining access to the Wilkes-Barre–Scranton job market), a diverse Luzerne County community with a primarily Polish-American, Italian-American, and working-class and middle-class Anthracite Region heritage population — draws its municipal water supply via the Pennsylvania American Water. Water hardness in Back Mountain measures 124.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Back Mountain's moderate hardness reflects the northeast PA Luzerne County Anthracite Region reservoir's calcareous-moderate character. The Harveys Lake and Susquehanna watershed drains the Devonian Pocono sandstone with effective treatment, producing the moderately hard 124.5 mg/L.
At 124.5 mg/L, Back Mountain residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning is recommended. Pennsylvania American Water consistently delivers water meeting all Pennsylvania DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Harveys Lake and Susquehanna watershed via the Pennsylvania American Water — the Luzerne County northeast PA Back Mountain corridor (Devonian calcareous-moderate Pocono sandstone — the calcareous-moderate northeast PA Luzerne County Anthracite Region reservoir; effective treatment); moderately hard supply at 124.5 mg/L in Luzerne County.