How does Oil City's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Oil City (103.5 mg/L) is 47 mg/L softer than average.

Oil City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

103.5mg/L

Moderately Hard

6 grains per gallon

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

112 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.28

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

103.5mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

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 Oil City, your appliances are currently losing 14% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Oil City	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.3 yrs	8.5 yrs	-14%
Washing Machine	10.3 yrs	12 yrs	-14%
Water Heater	12.9 yrs	15 yrs	-14%

Regional Water Comparison

How Oil City compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Oil City, Pennsylvania	103.5 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	groundwater
Meadville, Pennsylvania	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Butler, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	9.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Hermitage, Pennsylvania	204.5 mg/L	10.8 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
New Castle, Pennsylvania	104 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Oil City compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Oil City	103.5 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Oil City's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 112 mg/LpH: 7.6

The City of Oil City, Pennsylvania provides drinking water to residents through its municipal utility, serving Venango County. The entire water supply is drawn from groundwater, specifically a series of production wells at the Seneca Farm field, situated along the Allegheny River upstream of the city's central business district. This system has been the sole source of Oil City's drinking water since 1897, marking it as one of Pennsylvania's longest-standing groundwater operations. The Seneca Farm field taps into Pennsylvanian-age sedimentary formations characteristic of the Appalachian Basin in northwestern Pennsylvania.

These sandstones and shales, laid down during the late Paleozoic era, constitute the main aquifer system. As groundwater filters through these geological layers, it dissolves minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium carbonates, directly from the rock. This process naturally imbues the water with a moderately mineralized quality, typical for wells in this particular region of the Appalachian Basin. The water's dissolved mineral content reflects its journey through these carbonate-rich sedimentary rock layers.

Homeowners in Oil City might notice scale forming in their kettles and a diminished lather from soaps. Mineral deposits can also appear on bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances. To combat these effects, particularly in high-heat applications like water heaters and washing machines, a water softener is often a good investment for households and businesses. The utility advises customers to check their annual Consumer Confidence Report for specific treatment advice.

Geology & Source: Appalachian Basin Pennsylvanian sandstones and shales; sedimentary formations yield moderate mineralization from dissolved calcium and magnesium

Other Pennsylvania Water Reports

Meadville

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Butler

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Hermitage

204.5 mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

New Castle

104 mg/L

🟡 Moderately 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 Oil City's water safe to drink?

Yes. Oil City's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 103.5 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Oil City?

Oil City's water is moderately hard at 103.5 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Oil City compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Oil City (103.5 mg/L) is 47 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 Oil City 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.