Somerton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Somerton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — a major northeast Philadelphia neighborhood (Somerton is in the far northeast corner of Philadelphia — one of the most suburban-feeling neighborhoods in the city, characterized by single-family homes, tree-lined streets, and a primarily residential character more typical of surrounding suburban communities than urban Philadelphia), a diverse Philadelphia County community with a significant Italian-American, Irish-American, and growing Asian-American population, adjacent to Bucks County and the Philadelphia suburban fringe, and a community that retains much of the northeast Philadelphia rowhouse and small single-family home character — draws its municipal water supply from the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers via the Philadelphia Water Department. Water hardness in Somerton measures 153 mg/L — classified as hard.

Somerton's hard supply — harder than west and center city Philadelphia zones — reflects the northeast Philadelphia distribution zone characteristics. The Philadelphia Water Department distributes the Schuylkill–Delaware River blend supply through the far northeast Philadelphia Somerton mains (1950s–1970s suburban residential development era mains — among the newer Philadelphia residential distribution areas), producing the hard 153 mg/L.

At 153 mg/L, Somerton residents face regular hard water challenges. Monthly descaling with citric acid solution is recommended. Philadelphia Water Department consistently delivers water meeting all Pennsylvania DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.