Local guide / York, PA
Is York Water Hard? What It Means for Your Fixtures and Water Heater
White crust on the shower head, spots on glasses, a kettle that gets chalky inside. If you are on York Water, here is how hard your water actually is and what is worth doing about it.
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Where your water comes from
The York Water Company's 2024 water quality report says your water source is the combined flow of the South and East Branches of the Codorus Creek. The company's two lakes, Lake Williams and Lake Redman, sit on the East Branch and release water into the creek during droughts and other low flow periods.
During drought, water can also be moved from the Susquehanna River to the head of Lake Redman. The report notes that happened for the first time in 2023. The treatment plant is in Spring Garden Township.
The actual number
York Water puts its hardness at approximately 4.97 grains per gallon, or 85 parts per million. The company says that falls in the transition range from soft to moderately hard, and that the hardness in its system stays consistent year round.
For comparison, the Virginia Cooperative Extension hardness scale rates water this way:
- Soft. Under 1.0 grains per gallon (under 17.1 mg/L)
- Slightly hard. 1.0 to 3.5 grains per gallon (17.1 to 60 mg/L)
- Moderately hard. 3.5 to 7.0 grains per gallon (60 to 120 mg/L)
- Hard. 7.0 to 10.5 grains per gallon (120 to 180 mg/L)
- Very hard. Over 10.5 grains per gallon (over 180 mg/L)
So York's water lands in the moderately hard band, toward the lower end. Parts per million and mg/L are the same thing for this purpose, which is why the two numbers line up.
Water heater rumbling or fixtures clogged with scale in York? Call to reach a local plumber.
Call (717) 402-9746What you will notice around the house
York Water describes the effects plainly. Calcium and magnesium build up over time and leave harmless, filmy white deposits on faucets, bathtubs and teakettles. Hard water also takes more soap to lather.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension adds a few more: scale on the inside of pipes, cookware, plumbing fixtures and appliances, soap scum on fixtures and laundry, and reduced sudsing from soaps and detergents. In practice that usually shows up first as a shower head that sprays sideways, a faucet aerator that slows to a dribble, or a dishwasher that leaves cloudy glasses.
Most of that can be handled with a little cleaning. Soaking an aerator or shower head in white vinegar loosens the deposits. Unscrew it, soak it, rinse it, put it back.
Water heaters take the biggest hit
The part of the house that suffers most from minerals is the one you rarely look at. The Virginia Cooperative Extension says mineral scaling in water heaters can increase heating costs by reducing their efficiency, and that heavy scaling can reduce water flow and pressure in pipes.
A few signs your tank has sediment in it:
- Popping or rumbling sounds while the burner or elements run
- Hot water that runs out sooner than it used to
- Rusty or cloudy hot water, which can also mean the tank itself is wearing out
Your water heater's manual will say how often the maker wants the tank drained and flushed, and whether the anode rod should be checked. If the drain valve is old and stuck, or the tank is many years old, that is a good time to have a plumber look at it instead of forcing the valve.
Do you need a water softener?
Not automatically. York Water's numbers put it at the soft end of moderately hard, so plenty of households live with it and just descale fixtures now and then. A softener makes more sense if you have a tankless water heater, if scale keeps clogging fixtures, or if you are on a private well with harder water than the public system.
One thing to know before you buy: the Virginia Cooperative Extension points out that a sodium based ion exchange softener, the most common type, raises the sodium content of the water. If someone in the house is watching their salt intake, ask about bypassing a kitchen tap for drinking water.
If you want your own numbers, York Water's report lists its customer service line, 717-845-3601, and email, [email protected], for questions about water quality.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Checked 2026-10-31. Rules and phone numbers change, so confirm with the source before you rely on them.
Services
Plumbing Help in York
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, flooded basements, sewer backups and no water. Any hour.
Get help →EmergencyBurst & Frozen Pipe Repair
Split pipes after a freeze, leaks in walls and ceilings.
Get help →EmergencySump Pump Repair & Replacement
Pump not running, running nonstop or basement taking on water.
Get help →UrgentSewer Line Repair & Camera Inspection
Backups, roots in the line and cracked clay or cast iron pipe.
Get help →UrgentDrain Cleaning
Clogged kitchen, bath and basement drains cleared fast.
Get help →UrgentWater Heater Repair & Replacement
No hot water, leaking tanks, gas and electric units.
Get help →UrgentWater Line Repair & Repiping
Main water line leaks, low pressure and old galvanized pipe.
Get help →Plan aheadToilet & Faucet Repair
Running toilets, overflows, leaky faucets and new fixtures.
Get help →More guides
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Read the guide →Lead Service Lines: Check Yours
York Water is asking every customer what their service line is made of. If yours turns out to be lead, the company says it will replace it at no cost to you. Here is how to find out.
Read the guide →Plumbing Permits and Licenses
Pennsylvania leaves a lot of plumbing rules to each municipality, so the answer to "do I need a permit?" depends on which side of a township line you live on.
Read the guide →Call any time
Scale Problems in Your York Home?
Call to reach a local York County plumber for water heater service, fixture repair and softener questions.