Gibsonia, PA tap water
Supplied by Richland Twp Water Authority. Here's what its water means for your fish.
Disinfectant
Chloramine
Your water is treated with chloramine. Unlike chlorine, it doesn't gas off when water sits out, and many pitcher and fridge filters aren't rated to remove it. Conditioners that list chloramine on the label break it apart, which frees about 0.27 ppm of ammonia here. Some utilities switch to plain chlorine for a few weeks a year.
Safety for fish and shrimp
Ammonia (with conditioner)
Estimate0.18–0.34 ppm (Low)
Typical 0.27 ppm
This is what a conditioner frees when it breaks the chloramine apart. A cycled filter clears it within a day.
Estimated from the chloramine level Richland Twp Water Authority reports (2016–2019).
Nitrate (NO₃)
Supplier's figure1.3–3.9 ppm (Low)
Typical 2.3 ppm
Low, so water changes lower your tank's nitrate well.
From the utility that supplies yours: West View Water Authority and Hampton Shaler Water Authority, which supplies Richland Twp Water Authority (2012–2024).
Chlorine or chloramine at the tap
0.7–1.4 ppm
Typical 1.1 ppm
At tap levels, chlorine and chloramine are toxic to fish, shrimp and the bacteria in a filter. Water conditioners are made for this range.
From EPA monitoring data (2016–2019).
Water chemistry
General hardness
Not published yet
We haven't found this number yet. A drop test kit gives you your exact reading.
Carbonate hardness (alkalinity)
Supplier's figure45–72 ppm
Typical 59 ppm
Moderate buffering. pH should stay fairly steady.
From the utility that supplies yours: West View Water Authority and Hampton Shaler Water Authority, which supplies Richland Twp Water Authority (2012–2019).
pH
Supplier's figure7.5–8.5
Typical 8
Alkaline. Many utilities raise pH to protect pipes. Stability matters more than the exact number.
From the utility that supplies yours: West View Water Authority and Hampton Shaler Water Authority, which supplies Richland Twp Water Authority (2012–2019).
- Richland Twp Water Authority adds phosphate to protect pipes. It can feed algae in tanks without much plant growth.
- Richland Twp Water Authority softens its water at the plant, so it may be softer than the local groundwater.
Who supplies Gibsonia, PA
Richland Twp Water Authority
Serves 96% of residents · Buys water from West View Water Authority · Chloramine
Our data comes from public records and is still incomplete. Many utilities don't publish every number, so we're adding more all the time. Your city's range is a starting point: testing your own tap is the only way to know exactly what's in it.
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Compiled by Shoal & Stem from public records. Free to cite with a link.