Area Data Alone Cannot Tell You Your Home’s Water Hardness
Residents of Burlington County drawing water from aquifer 121CKKD might find area groundwater data useful, but it cannot substitute for testing your own water supply. Government sampling reports hardness levels from 37 samples across 13 wells, but these are averages and ranges from various points, not your household’s specific well or municipal tap. To know your home’s exact water hardness, testing a current water sample is necessary.
How to Interpret the Area’s Median and Range for Hardness
The U.S. Geological Survey’s median hardness reading for aquifer 121CKKD in Burlington County is 3.19 mg/L, with a range from 0.65 to 136.0 mg/L based on samples taken between 2010 and 2024. This means half the measurements were above 3.19 mg/L, half below. The wide range shows some locations have much higher hardness than others. While most samples detected hardness, two were below the reporting limit, showing variability across the aquifer.
Sample Size and Distribution: What 37 Samples from 13 Wells Tell Us
The data covers a modest number of samples and wells with varying depths between 10 and 102 feet. While this provides a broad indication of water hardness in the area, the well-to-well differences and relatively small sample size mean localized conditions at your home could differ. The samples represent a range of conditions but do not capture every variation within the aquifer or distribution system.
Understanding Seasonal and Multi-Year Changes in Water Hardness
The samples span more than a decade, allowing some insight into temporal changes. The hardness range has not shown a consistent upward or downward trend during this period, indicating relative stability in the groundwater hardness over time. Seasonal fluctuations might occur but are averaged out in these data. Your home water hardness could vary seasonally, so periodic testing is advisable.
How Well Depth and Source Type Affect Water Hardness Expectations
The range of well depths in the area (10 to 102 feet) suggests that hardness levels can vary by how deep the water source is. Shallower wells might interact more with local soil minerals affecting hardness, whereas deeper wells could have different mineral profiles. Additionally, water sourced from municipal treatment systems might differ from private wells. Your water hardness will reflect your unique source and well or system characteristics.
What You Should Not Assume Based on Burlington County Area Hardness Data
This regional data does not imply that your household’s water has a specific hardness level or that detected hardness exceeds any legal or health-based limits. None of the samples were above federal thresholds. Detected hardness relates primarily to aesthetic and operational effects, such as soap performance and scale buildup, rather than health concerns. Confirm your own water hardness before making treatment decisions.
For homes experiencing hard water challenges, the Fleck Hard Water — Large Home System ships ready to configure and is designed to address typical hardness issues found in large residences. It can help reduce scale buildup and improve water usability based on measured hardness in your home.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2024-06-05. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Hardness, Ca, Mg in the 121CKKD aquifer (Burlington County): 37 results from 13 wells, median 3.19 mg/L, range 0.65-136.0 mg/L; none above any federal threshold