Is Ohio tap water hard or soft?
It depends on the city. 48 % of the 31 cities with published data in Ohio have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L). The median is 7 gpg, from 6.3 gpg in Akron to 25 gpg in Circleville.
We have published hardness data for 31 cities in Ohio. The median is 7 gpg; the hardest water is in Circleville (25 gpg), the softest in Akron (6.3 gpg).
48 % of these cities have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L).
USGS classes: soft 0–60, moderately hard 61–120, hard 121–180, very hard >180 mg/L.
Cities in Ohio, hardest first
| gpg | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Circleville | 25 | 428 | very hard |
| Barberton | 11.3 | 194 | very hard |
| Englewood | 8.8 | 150 | hard |
| Dayton | 8.1 | 139 | hard |
| Cincinnati | 7.8 | 133 | hard |
| Norwood | 7.8 | 133 | hard |
| Hamilton | 7.6 | 130 | hard |
| Miamisburg | 7.5 | 128 | hard |
| Columbus | 7.2 | 123 | hard |
| Cleveland Heights | 7 | 120 | hard |
| Gahanna | 7 | 120 | hard |
| Grove City | 7 | 120 | hard |
| Hilliard | 7 | 120 | hard |
| Reynoldsburg | 7 | 120 | hard |
| Upper Arlington | 7 | 120 | hard |
| Stow | 7 | 120 | moderately hard |
| Bedford | 6.9 | 118 | moderately hard |
| Euclid | 6.9 | 118 | moderately hard |
| Rocky River | 6.9 | 118 | moderately hard |
| Strongsville | 6.9 | 118 | moderately hard |
| Westlake | 6.9 | 118 | moderately hard |
| Cleveland | 6.8 | 117 | moderately hard |
| Mayfield Heights | 6.8 | 117 | moderately hard |
| North Olmsted | 6.8 | 117 | moderately hard |
| Parma | 6.8 | 117 | moderately hard |
| Painesville | 6.8 | 116 | moderately hard |
| Cuyahoga Falls | 6.7 | 115 | moderately hard |
| Macedonia | 6.6 | 113 | moderately hard |
| Tallmadge | 6.4 | 110 | moderately hard |
| Sidney | 6.3 | 108 | moderately hard |
| Akron | 6.3 | 107 | moderately hard |
FAQ
Is Ohio water hard or soft?
It depends on the city. 48 % of the 31 cities we cover have hard or very hard water; the median is 7 gpg.
Which city in Ohio has the hardest water?
Circleville, at 25 gpg, has the hardest water of the 31 cities with published data.
Which city in Ohio has the softest water?
Akron, at 6.3 gpg, has the softest water of the 31 cities with published data.
Do I need a water softener in Ohio?
Above about 120 mg/L (7 gpg) scale builds up in water heaters, kettles and dishwashers, and a softener or at least regular descaling pays off. Look up your own city in the table: in Ohio the values range from 6.3 gpg to 25 gpg.