Mountain Top Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.9 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
316.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
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 Mountain Top, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Mountain Top | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -46% |
| Washing Machine | 8 yrs | 12 yrs | -33% |
| Water Heater | 9.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -37% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Mountain Top compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mountain Top, Pennsylvania | 151.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | 93 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Kingston, Pennsylvania | 91.5 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Nanticoke, Pennsylvania | 168.5 mg/L | 8.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Back Mountain, Pennsylvania | 124.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Mountain Top compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mountain Top | 151.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Mountain Top's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County — a Luzerne County unincorporated community adjacent to Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton in the Back Mountain area of northeast Pennsylvania — receives its water from Pennsylvania American Water, drawing from Harveys Lake and local reservoirs through the northeast Pennsylvania distribution.
The hard 151.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 316.8 mg/L reflect the Luzerne County supply's hard coal-region character — the Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation and Mississippian Pocono Group are slightly calcareous formations in the Pennsylvania anthracite coal region, and the Back Mountain area reservoirs concentrate calcareous mineral content from their Appalachian Plateau drainage (compare Wilkes-Barre PA: 148/308 in Luzerne County comparable; Hazleton PA: 154/325 in Luzerne County comparable; Mountain Top consistent hard from the same Luzerne County Harveys Lake Pennsylvanian supply). The Luzerne County watershed — Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Mississippian Pocono Group (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Back Mountain alluvium (slightly calcareous — minor TDS).
At 151.5 mg/L with TDS 317, Mountain Top's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 7.8 ppt is elevated — a certified drinking water filter with PFAS removal is recommended. Review Pennsylvania American Water's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Mountain Top in Luzerne County draws from the Pennsylvania American Water on Harveys Lake (Luzerne County, northeast Pennsylvania) — the watershed drains Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation (slightly calcareous) and Mississippian Pocono Group (slightly calcareous) — Pennsylvania Luzerne County Harveys Lake Pennsylvanian supply produces hard water at 151.5 mg/L with TDS 316.8 mg/L.