How does Somerton's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Somerton (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Somerton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

298 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Somerton, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Somerton	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Somerton compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Somerton, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Bustleton, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	9.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Modena Park, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Parkwood Manor, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Bensalem, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	9.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Somerton compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Somerton	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Somerton's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 298 mg/LpH: 8

Somerton, a neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is served by the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), supplying drinking water to over 1.7 million residents in Philadelphia County. Primary sources are the Schuylkill River — treated at the Queen Lane, Wissahickon, and Torresdale plants — and the Delaware River, treated at the Baxter and Queen Lane plants. All supply is surface water drawn from these interstate rivers; no local groundwater is used.

The Schuylkill and Delaware River watersheds span the Appalachian Piedmont and Valley & Ridge provinces, traversing Paleozoic carbonate rock formations including the Ordovician Beekmantown Limestone and Cambrian Ledger Dolomite. These formations weather to release calcium and magnesium carbonates, imparting a hard character to the supply through high mineral dissolution from limestone-dominated drainage basins. Seasonal concentration or dilution occurs, but inherent mineralisation remains elevated from these sedimentary layers.

Hard water in this supply leads to scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency and lifespan by 30–50% without mitigation. Laundry may appear dingy and soap scum forms on fixtures; skin dryness can increase from soap residue. Annual descaling with vinegar, drain screens, and high-efficiency detergents help manage deposits. A water softener is recommended for households with persistent hard water issues. pH is adjusted to around 7.5; the PWD uses orthophosphate for lead and copper corrosion control, and TTHMs and HAA5 remain under MCLs per 2024 reports.

Geology & Source: Schuylkill and Delaware River watersheds; Cambrian–Ordovician limestone and dolomite — Beekmantown Group and Allentown Formation; carbonate dissolution imparts hard character; Piedmont province of southeastern Pennsylvania

Other Pennsylvania Water Reports

Bustleton

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Modena Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Parkwood Manor

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Bensalem

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Somerton's water safe to drink?

Yes. Somerton's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Somerton?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Somerton's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Somerton compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Somerton (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 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 Somerton 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.