Jefferson Hills Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
404.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.46
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 Jefferson Hills, your appliances are currently losing 23% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Jefferson Hills | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -54% |
| Washing Machine | 7.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -40% |
| Water Heater | 8.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -43% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Jefferson Hills compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania | 174 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| South Park Township, Pennsylvania | 146.5 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Baldwin, Pennsylvania | 127.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| McKeesport, Pennsylvania | 176 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Whitehall, Pennsylvania | 213.5 mg/L | 11.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Jefferson Hills compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Jefferson Hills | 174 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Jefferson Hills's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County — an Allegheny County borough adjacent to Clairton and McKeesport on the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh — receives its water from Pennsylvania American Water, drawing from the Monongahela River through the southwest Pennsylvania distribution.
The hard 174 mg/L hardness and TDS of 404.6 mg/L are notably elevated for the Pittsburgh area — the Monongahela at Pittsburgh drains the West Virginia coal fields which overlie Pennsylvanian Conemaugh Formation and Devonian Catskill calcareous formations, concentrating minerals and dissolved mine-drainage solids (compare Clairton PA: 170/396 in Allegheny County comparable; McKeesport PA: 177/413 in Allegheny County comparable; Jefferson Hills consistent hard from the same Allegheny County Monongahela River Pennsylvanian supply). The Monongahela watershed — Pennsylvanian Conemaugh Formation (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Catskill Formation (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Monongahela alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 174 mg/L with TDS 405, Jefferson Hills' water is hard — scale builds notably in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 9.2 ppt is very elevated — a certified drinking water filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended — the Allegheny County Pittsburgh area industrial legacy and military (former Pittsburgh Arsenal, McGuire Ordnance Depot) contributes to Jefferson Hills' elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Jefferson Hills in Allegheny County draws from the Pennsylvania American Water on the Monongahela River (Allegheny County, southwest Pennsylvania) — the Monongahela watershed drains Pennsylvanian Conemaugh Formation (calcareous) and Devonian Catskill Formation (calcareous) — Pennsylvania Allegheny County Monongahela River Pennsylvanian supply produces hard water at 174 mg/L with TDS 404.6 mg/L.