Scranton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
529.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.55
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 Scranton, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Scranton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -67% |
| Washing Machine | 6 yrs | 12 yrs | -50% |
| Water Heater | 7.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -51% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Scranton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Scranton, Pennsylvania | 206 mg/L | 10.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Dunmore, Pennsylvania | 177.5 mg/L | 9.1 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 |
| Back Mountain, Pennsylvania | 124.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Scranton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Scranton | 206 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Scranton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Scranton, Pennsylvania, the Lackawanna County seat in the Northern Coal Field of northeast Pennsylvania — 'The Electric City' (first US city to operate electric streetcars) — draws its municipal water supply from the Roaring Brook watershed (tributaries of Roaring Brook on Elk Mountain in Lackawanna County) via Pennsylvania American Water (Scranton Division), the regional water utility serving the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. The Roaring Brook and associated watershed impoundments provide the Scranton area supply. Water hardness in Scranton measures 206 mg/L — classified as hard.
Scranton's hard supply is striking for a northeastern Pennsylvania city typically expected to produce soft water on its Allegheny Plateau watershed. The Roaring Brook watershed drains the Lackawanna Valley and the adjacent Moosic Mountains — underlain by the Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation (conglomerate and sandstone — siliceous) and the overlying Anthracite coal measures (Pennsylvanian shale, sandstone, and coal). However, the Lackawanna Valley also contains Devonian Hamilton Group calcareous shale and argillite, and the deep valley fill includes Quaternary glacial outwash with calcareous gravel from erratics brought by Pleistocene ice. The hard supply in Scranton may also reflect distribution infrastructure characteristics, with the older Pennsylvania American Water cast-iron mains in Scranton's dense urban core accumulating substantial mineral deposits over decades.
At 206 mg/L, Scranton residents face significant hard water challenges. Scale deposits form rapidly on faucet aerators, showerheads, and appliances — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is essential maintenance. Pennsylvania American Water consistently delivers water meeting all Pennsylvania DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Roaring Brook watershed (Elk Mountain range) and Stafford Meadow Brook via the Pennsylvania American Water (Scranton Division) — the Lackawanna Valley Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation (conglomerate and sandstone), Anthracite coal measures, and Devonian Hamilton Group shale and argillite of northeast Pennsylvania; very hard supply at 206 mg/L in Lackawanna County.