Is New York tap water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 38 % of the 16 cities with published data in New York have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L). The median is 5.2 gpg, from 1.1 gpg in Utica to 11.3 gpg in Haverstraw.
We have published hardness data for 16 cities in New York. The median is 5.2 gpg; the hardest water is in Haverstraw (11.3 gpg), the softest in Utica (1.1 gpg).
38 % of these cities have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L).
USGS classes: soft 0–60, moderately hard 61–120, hard 121–180, very hard >180 mg/L.
Cities in New York, hardest first
| gpg | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Haverstraw | 11.3 | 194 | very hard |
| Suffern | 11.3 | 194 | very hard |
| Batavia | 7.9 | 135 | hard |
| Geneva | 7.6 | 130 | hard |
| Syracuse | 7.4 | 127 | hard |
| Niagara Falls | 7.2 | 123 | hard |
| New Hyde Park | 7 | 119 | moderately hard |
| Rochester | 6.1 | 104 | moderately hard |
| Poughkeepsie | 4.4 | 75 | moderately hard |
| Glen Cove | 4.2 | 73 | moderately hard |
| Albany | 3.1 | 52 | soft |
| New York | 1.9 | 32 | soft |
| Lynbrook | 1.7 | 29 | soft |
| Hempstead | 1.6 | 27 | soft |
| Oneida | 1.4 | 24 | soft |
| Utica | 1.1 | 19 | soft |
FAQ
Is New York water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 38 % of the 16 cities we cover have hard or very hard water; the median is 5.2 gpg.
Which city in New York has the hardest water?
Haverstraw, at 11.3 gpg, has the hardest water of the 16 cities with published data.
Which city in New York has the softest water?
Utica, at 1.1 gpg, has the softest water of the 16 cities with published data.
Do I need a water softener in New York?
Above about 120 mg/L (7 gpg) scale builds up in water heaters, kettles and dishwashers, and a softener or at least regular descaling pays off. Look up your own city in the table: in New York the values range from 1.1 gpg to 11.3 gpg.
On a private well? Well water hardness in New York by county →