How does Lawndale's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Lawndale (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Lawndale Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

328.1 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Lawndale, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Lawndale	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Lawndale compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Lawndale, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Oxford Circle, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	56.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Fox Chase, Pennsylvania	≈ 180+ mg/L	9.4 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Olney, Pennsylvania	≈ 180+ mg/L	5.9 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Rhawnhurst, Pennsylvania	174.5 mg/L	8.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Lawndale compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Lawndale	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Lawndale home

Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →

Shop Now

What Makes Lawndale's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 328.1 mg/LpH: 8

Lawndale, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, receives its drinking water from the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), which serves over 2 million people across Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs including parts of Montgomery County. PWD sources raw water primarily from the Schuylkill River — served by the Queen Lane, Wissahickon, and Torresdale treatment plants — and the Delaware River, served by the Baxter plant. Surface water is drawn from these rivers and treated at five major plants with combined capacities exceeding 1 billion gallons daily.

The supply originates in the Schuylkill-Delaware River Basin watershed, spanning the Piedmont and Valley & Ridge physiographic provinces of southeastern Pennsylvania. Underlying geology features Paleozoic carbonate rock formations including the Conestoga Limestone (Cambrian) and dolomites, which contribute dissolved minerals to river flow. No major aquifer is tapped directly; riverine chemistry reflects prolonged contact with limestone-dominated terrains upstream, yielding moderately mineralised water with seasonal variation in ion concentration.

At moderately hard levels, scale buildup occurs in kettles, dishwashers, and water heaters, reducing efficiency by 20–30% over time and increasing energy bills. Laundry may require more detergent and glassware spots are common. Annual vinegar flushes help maintain appliances; a whole-house softener is optional but beneficial for longevity. PWD maintains pH at 8.5–9.5 for corrosion control; full lead/copper compliance is confirmed under LCRR, and no PFAS exceedances have been reported in recent CCRs.

Geology & Source: Schuylkill and Delaware River watersheds; Cambrian-Ordovician Ledger Dolomite and Chickies Quartzite with Devonian shale — carbonate bedrock dissolves calcium and magnesium; karst terrain produces moderately hard water

Other Pennsylvania Water Reports

Oxford Circle

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Fox Chase

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Olney

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Rhawnhurst

174.5 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lawndale's water safe to drink?

Yes. Lawndale's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Lawndale?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Lawndale's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Lawndale compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Lawndale (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Lawndale is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.