Oil City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
176.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.28
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 Oil City, your appliances are currently losing 14% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Oil City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -27% |
| Washing Machine | 9.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -18% |
| Water Heater | 11.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Oil City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Oil City, Pennsylvania | 103.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Meadville, Pennsylvania | 183.5 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Butler, Pennsylvania | 181.5 mg/L | 9.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Hermitage, Pennsylvania | 204.5 mg/L | 10.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| New Castle, Pennsylvania | 178 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🟠 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 | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Oil City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Oil City, Pennsylvania, in Venango County — the Venango County seat adjacent to Franklin and Emlenton on the Allegheny River in northwest Pennsylvania — receives its water from Pennsylvania American Water, drawing from the Allegheny River through the northwest Pennsylvania distribution.
The moderately hard 103.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 176.1 mg/L reflect the Venango County supply's moderate Allegheny Plateau character — the Devonian Venango Formation and Mississippian Pocono Formation are slightly calcareous formations in the northwest Pennsylvania Allegheny Plateau; the Allegheny River at Venango County acquires moderate dissolved mineral content from its Appalachian Plateau sandstone and shale drainage in the historic oil region (compare Franklin PA: 100/169 in Venango County comparable; Emlenton PA: 106/183 in Venango County comparable; Oil City consistent moderate from the same Venango County Allegheny River Devonian supply). The Allegheny River at Venango County — Devonian Venango Formation (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Mississippian Pocono Formation (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Allegheny River alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 103.5 mg/L with TDS 176, Oil City's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review Pennsylvania American Water's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Oil City in Venango County draws from the Pennsylvania American Water on the Allegheny River supply (Venango County, northwest Pennsylvania) — the Allegheny Plateau at Venango County draws from Devonian Venango Formation (slightly calcareous) and Mississippian Pocono Formation (slightly calcareous) — Pennsylvania Venango County Allegheny River Devonian supply produces moderately hard water at 103.5 mg/L with TDS 176.1 mg/L.