How hard is the water in Reading, PA?

Tap water hardness
64mg/L
3.7gpg
Moderately hardCounty estimate

County estimate from 1,507 water samples in Berks County · July 2026

PA typical
127 mg/L
Softener for 3 people
24k grain
Data
County estimate

Water samples from around Reading put hardness at about 64 mg/L (3.7 gpg), which would be moderately hard on the USGS scale. Treat this as a rough guide: it is the median of 1,507 samples taken across Berks County, mostly wells and streams, not a test of Reading's treated tap water.

Reading on the hardness scale, with nearby cities
060120180240300360+PA typical 127Sanatoga: 106 mg/LSanatoga 106Lionville: 135 mg/LLionville 135Downingtown: 135 mg/LDowningtown 135Exton: 152 mg/LExton 152Phoenixville: 153 mg/LPhoenixville 153Emmaus: 191 mg/LEmmaus 191Breinigsville: 240 mg/LBreinigsville 240Ancient Oaks: 240 mg/LAncient Oaks 240Wescosville: 240 mg/LWescosville 240Lebanon: 266 mg/LLebanon 266Reading 64mg/L as calcium carbonate060120180240300360+PA 127Sanatoga: 106 mg/LSanatoga 106Lionville: 135 mg/LLionville 135Phoenixville: 153 mg/LPhoenixvil. 153Breinigsville: 240 mg/LBreinigsvi. 240Ancient Oaks: 240 mg/LAncient Oa. 240Wescosville: 240 mg/LWescosville 24064 mg/Lmg/L as calcium carbonate
Soft 0–60 mg/LModerately hard 61–120 mg/LHard 121–180 mg/LVery hard 181+ mg/L

At 64 mg/L, Reading is 63 mg/L below the typical Pennsylvania figure of 127. None of the 10 nearest cities we track has softer water. The range nearby runs from 106 mg/L in Sanatoga to 266 in Lebanon.

What 64 mg/L means at home

You may see faint white spots on glasses and shower doors after the water dries.

Scale builds up slowly. A kettle or coffee maker needs descaling now and then, maybe every few months.

Hardness is not a health problem, and EPA sets no limit for it. It is a matter of scale and soap.

What to do about it

Optional. Plenty of households at this level live with it and descale the kettle now and then.

Water softener

Worth a look if spots on glass bother you, or if your tankless water heater manual asks for softer water.

Carbon filter

Improves taste and removes chlorine. It leaves calcium and magnesium in place.

Softener size for Reading

3 people × 75 gallons a day × 3.7 gpg = 842 grains a day. A 24,000-grain unit regenerates about every 28 days.

Size it for your household

EPA record for Reading's water system

We could not match Reading to a community water system in EPA's records. Your water bill or the yearly Consumer Confidence Report names the system and its ID.

Questions

Is Reading water hard?

Somewhat. It measures about 64 mg/L (3.7 grains per gallon), which the USGS classes as moderately hard.

What is the water hardness in Reading in grains per gallon?

About 3.7 gpg. One grain per gallon equals 17.1 mg/L, so 64 mg/L divided by 17.1 gives 3.7.

What size water softener do I need in Reading?

For 3 people using 75 gallons each per day, 3.7 gpg works out to about 842 grains a day. A 24,000-grain softener covers that with a regeneration about every 28 days.

Nearby cities

All 172 cities in Pennsylvania

Hardness data: TapWaterData US Water Hardness (county estimate, July 4, 2026), CC BY 4.0. Population: US Census Bureau. Violations: EPA ECHO. How we use them.