Bellefonte Water Information

Water sources typically do not contain lead.  If water is corrosive and not treated accordingly, it can cause the lead in piping, plumbing, etc. to leach out into the water.

If the source is corrosive to the point that action levels are exceeded, then the water system would be mandated to treat the water for corrosiveness.   The Bellefonte Water System is not under any  mandate to treat its water for corrosiveness.  

PA DEP Drinking Water Reporting System

The pH of Big Spring water

The pH scale measures how acidic (corrosive) or basic a substance is. It ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, a pH less than 7 is acidic, and a pH greater than 7 is basic. Each pH value is ten times more or less than the next level.

The Bellefonte Big Spring water is fairly consistent and has a pH of 7.6 – 8.0 or on the Basic side. 

Bellefonte has hard water, how does that impact lead and copper in the water?

Hard water is “scale forming”. This scale, made of precipitated calcium carbonate, builds a layer on the inside of pipes and fittings. This helps to isolate the water from the pipes and fittings that may contain lead and lowers the ability for lead to be leached from pipes and fittings into the water.  The hardness of Bellefonte water is 9.2 grains/gallon or 158 mg/L.