West Mount Airy Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
478.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.52
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 Mount Airy, your appliances are currently losing 26% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In West Mount Airy | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -62% |
| Washing Machine | 6.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -47% |
| Water Heater | 7.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -48% |
Regional Water Comparison
How West Mount Airy compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ West Mount Airy, Pennsylvania | 194.5 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| East Mount Airy, Pennsylvania | 125 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Roxborough, Pennsylvania | 157.5 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| West Oak Lane, Pennsylvania | 195 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Ogontz, Pennsylvania | 153.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How West Mount Airy compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ West Mount Airy | 194.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes West Mount Airy's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
West Mount Airy, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County — a Philadelphia County neighborhood adjacent to Germantown and Chestnut Hill in northwest Philadelphia — receives its water from the Philadelphia Water Department, drawing from the Schuylkill River or Delaware River (Philadelphia County) through the southeast Pennsylvania distribution.
The hard 194.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 478.9 mg/L reflect the southeast Pennsylvania Philadelphia County supply's hard dolomitic character — harder than the northeast Pennsylvania supplies (Kingston PA: 91.5 mg/L) because the Schuylkill and Delaware drainages contact the Cambrian Ledger Dolomite and Ordovician Conestoga Formation calcareous formations in the Philadelphia Piedmont, accumulating significant hardness (compare Weigelstown PA: 122.5/226; West Mount Airy harder from the Philadelphia County deeper dolomite contact). The Schuylkill-Delaware at Philadelphia County — Cambrian Ledger Dolomite (dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Precambrian Wissahickon Schist (insoluble — dilutant), and Ordovician Conestoga Formation (calcareous — secondary contributor).
At 194.5 mg/L with TDS 479, West Mount Airy's water is hard. A water softener is recommended to prevent scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 10.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Philadelphia County urban industrial corridor contribute to West Mount Airy's elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: West Mount Airy in Philadelphia County draws from the Philadelphia Water Department on the Schuylkill River (Philadelphia County, southeast Pennsylvania) — the Schuylkill watershed at Philadelphia drains the Pennsylvania Piedmont (Precambrian Wissahickon Schist — insoluble) and Cambrian Ledger Dolomite (dolomitic) — Pennsylvania Philadelphia County Schuylkill Precambrian-Cambrian dolomitic supply produces hard water at 194.5 mg/L with TDS 478.9 mg/L.