Darby Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
322.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.41
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 Darby, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Darby | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -47% |
| Washing Machine | 7.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -34% |
| Water Heater | 9.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -37% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Darby compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Darby, Pennsylvania | 153.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Yeadon, Pennsylvania | 142 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Paschall, Pennsylvania | 162.5 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Lansdowne, Pennsylvania | 101 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Elmwood, Pennsylvania | 169.5 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Darby compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Darby | 153.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Darby's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Darby, Pennsylvania, in Delaware County — a Delaware County borough adjacent to Sharon Hill and Collingdale in the southwest Philadelphia suburbs — receives its water from Aqua Pennsylvania, drawing from the Chester Creek and Ridley Creek supply through the southeast Pennsylvania distribution.
The hard 153.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 322.7 mg/L reflect the Delaware County supply's hard Piedmont character — the Precambrian Wissahickon Formation provides insoluble dilution, while the Cambrian Cockeysville Marble contributes calcareous mineral content from its marble and calcareous gneiss; Darby's higher hardness relative to other Philadelphia-area communities reflects the deeper well field penetration into the Cockeysville marble beds (compare Sharon Hill PA: 149/312 in Delaware County comparable; Collingdale PA: 157/333 in Delaware County comparable; Darby consistent hard from the same Delaware County Ridley Creek Precambrian supply). The Ridley Creek watershed — Precambrian Wissahickon Formation (insoluble — primary dilutant), Cambrian Cockeysville Marble (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Delaware County Coastal Plain (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 153.5 mg/L with TDS 323, Darby's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 7.8 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review Aqua Pennsylvania's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Darby in Delaware County draws from the Aqua Pennsylvania on the Ridley Creek supply (Delaware County, southeast Pennsylvania) — the Chester Creek watershed draws from Precambrian Wissahickon Formation (insoluble) and Cambrian Cockeysville Marble (calcareous) — Pennsylvania Delaware County Ridley Creek Precambrian supply produces hard water at 153.5 mg/L with TDS 322.7 mg/L.