Reading Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Pennsylvania American Water serves the Penn system covering Reading, Wyomissing, West Lawn, Sinking Spring, Shillington, Lower Heidelberg, and Wyomissing Hills in Berks County, Pennsylvania, drawing from seven groundwater wells averaging 2.4 million gallons daily with an emergency interconnection to Western Berks Water Authority. Separately, Reading Area Water Authority serves the City of Reading, sourcing primarily from Lake Ontelaunee via the Maidencreek Filter Plant and Pumping Station, with a capacity of 25 million gallons per day. Treatment at both systems involves filtration, disinfection, and pH adjustment before distribution.

The Lake Ontelaunee watershed drains the Blue Mountain province across metamorphic gneiss, schist, and quartzite from the Catskill Aquifer system, with Triassic New Oxford Formation conglomerates contributing additional minerals. Groundwater wells access deeper carbonate aquifers in the Great Valley, featuring dolomitic limestones of the Beekmantown Group that impart a hard character through dissolution of calcium and magnesium. Surface runoff from forested highlands provides moderate buffering without aggressive softening, blending reservoir-moderated chemistry with direct aquifer hardness.

Scale buildup is significant at moderate hardness levels — hot water heaters fail 2–3 times faster, washing machines accumulate residue, and dishwashers leave films. Faucets develop crusty deposits and boilers risk efficiency loss from mineral insulation. Annual descaling of coffee makers and humidifiers, vinegar soaks for showerheads, and magnetic descalers are recommended. A water softener is advised to extend equipment longevity and improve soap lathering. pH averages 7.5; Reading Area Water Authority reports contaminants including bromodichloromethane and chloroform above health guidelines but within EPA maximums. Treatment at Maidencreek Plant uses coagulation-filtration-disinfection; wells use aeration and chlorination.