West Kensington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
238.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.34
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 West Kensington, your appliances are currently losing 17% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In West Kensington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -36% |
| Washing Machine | 8.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -26% |
| Water Heater | 10.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -30% |
Regional Water Comparison
How West Kensington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ West Kensington, Pennsylvania | 127.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Hartranft, Pennsylvania | 207.5 mg/L | 10.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Fishtown, Pennsylvania | 180 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Hunting Park, Pennsylvania | 141 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Nicetown-Tioga, Pennsylvania | 197.5 mg/L | 10.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How West Kensington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ West Kensington | 127.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes West Kensington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
West Kensington, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County — a Philadelphia County neighborhood adjacent to Kensington and Fairhill in the inner North Philadelphia neighborhoods — receives its water from the Philadelphia Water Department, drawing from the Delaware River and Schuylkill River through the southeast Pennsylvania metropolitan distribution.
The moderately hard 127.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 238.8 mg/L reflect the Philadelphia County Delaware-Schuylkill supply's moderate character — the Precambrian Highlands Gneiss provides insoluble dilution while Cambrian Chickies Formation quartzite and Triassic sediments contribute modest calcareous mineral content (compare Kensington PA: 125/234 in Philadelphia County comparable; Fairhill PA: 130/243 in Philadelphia County comparable; West Kensington consistent moderate from the same Philadelphia County Delaware River Precambrian-Cambrian supply). The Delaware-Schuylkill watershed — Precambrian Highlands Gneiss (insoluble — primary dilutant), Cambrian Chickies Formation (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Delaware alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 127.5 mg/L with TDS 239, West Kensington's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup in appliances. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review Philadelphia Water's annual water quality report for the latest monitoring data, particularly for lead in older inner-city infrastructure.
Geology & Source: West Kensington in Philadelphia County draws from Philadelphia Water on the Delaware River (Philadelphia County, southeast Pennsylvania) — the Delaware at Philadelphia drains Precambrian Highlands Gneiss (insoluble) and Cambrian Chickies Formation (slightly calcareous) — Pennsylvania Philadelphia County Delaware River Precambrian-Cambrian supply produces moderately hard water at 127.5 mg/L with TDS 238.8 mg/L.