Rhawnhurst Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
399.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.47
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Rhawnhurst, your appliances are currently losing 23% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Rhawnhurst | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -24% |
| Washing Machine | 9.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -23% |
| Water Heater | 11.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Rhawnhurst compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rhawnhurst, Pennsylvania | 174.5 mg/L | 8.9 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 |
| Bustleton, Pennsylvania | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 9.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Tacony, Pennsylvania | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Rhawnhurst compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rhawnhurst | 174.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Rhawnhurst's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Rhawnhurst, in Northeast Philadelphia, receives water from the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), serving Philadelphia County and surrounding areas. Primary sources include the Schuylkill River (Queen Lane and Belmont treatment plants) and the Delaware River (Samuel S. Baxter Water Treatment Plant in Torresdale). PWD delivers to over 1.7 million people across 250 square miles, with Rhawnhurst in the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant service area. Treatment plants filter and disinfect surface water from these rivers, supplemented by groundwater in some zones.
The Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers drain the greater Philadelphia watershed, traversing Paleozoic sedimentary rocks including the Chickies Quartzite and Ledger Dolomite from the Cambrian period, overlain by Triassic sandstones of the Newark Basin. These formations dissolve slowly, imparting a moderately mineralised character through calcium and magnesium leaching. The mixed geology of limestones, shales, and basalts shapes a supply with variable mineral content, influenced by upstream agricultural and urban runoff.
At soft to hard levels typical for Pennsylvania, scale buildup affects water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines most, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Soap lathering is reduced, leaving films on skin, hair, and dishes; fixtures may spot. Regular vinegar descaling, low-flow aerators, and annual heater flushing help mitigate. A water softener is recommended for hard conditions. PWD water maintains pH 7.0–8.5, meeting EPA standards; the system complies with lead and copper rules via corrosion control, and recent CCRs show no PFAS exceedances above advisory levels post-treatment.
Geology & Source: Delaware River Watershed; Ordovician-Cambrian limestone and dolomite plus Lockatong and Brunswick Formation shales; fractured bedrock aquifers yield calcium and magnesium — moderate hardness from carbonate dissolution
Other Pennsylvania Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How does Rhawnhurst compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Rhawnhurst is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.