Water Hardness in New Jersey Cities

Water Hardness in New Jersey Cities

Water hardness is determined by the amount of calcium and magnesium ions present in the water. This attribute can differ across New Jersey, as its cities each have unique geological characteristics and water supply sources that influence water hardness levels.

In New Jersey, water hardness can range from soft to very hard depending on the particular city or region. For instance, cities in Northern New Jersey that rely on surface water from reservoirs or rivers may generally have softer water. In contrast, areas in Central and Southern New Jersey that use groundwater from wells might exhibit harder water due to the minerals from the local bedrock that dissolve into the water supply.

The water hardness values for cities in New Jersey can tell us more about the specific conditions experienced locally. While these values may fluctuate, many communities in New Jersey are known to encounter water with varying degrees of hardness. Hard water can influence several aspects of daily life from the taste of tap water to how well household cleaning agents work, and it can also affect the lifespan and efficiency of water-using appliances.

The water hardness levels in the state of New Jersey also show variation across different cities, with measurements given in parts per million (ppm) and grains per gallon (gpg). Jersey City has a hardness level of 140.0 ppm, 8.18 gpg, while Paterson, Clifton, and Passaic each have levels of 89.0 ppm, 5.20 gpg. In comparison, Elizabeth has a somewhat higher level at 97.0 ppm, 5.67 gpg, and Trenton’s water registers at 80.6 ppm, 4.73 gpg. Among the highest, East Orange stands out with a water hardness of 485.0 ppm, 28.33 gpg. In contrast, Vineland has one of the lowest recorded levels in the state at 27.0 ppm, 1.58 gpg. Cities such as Newark, Camden, New Brunswick, Plainfield, and several others did not have available data.

City Hardness ppm (mg/L) Hardness gpg Information Source Notes
Newark n/a n/a Link
Jersey City 140.0 8.2 Link Median of range
Paterson 89.0 5.2 Link Passaic Valley Main System, took median of Little Falls range as that’s the main source and Wanaque which is blended with it. The other listed sources are only occasionally added
Elizabeth 97.0 5.7 Link Via Zip Lookup
Trenton 80.6 4.7 Link
Clifton 89.0 5.2 Link Passaic Valley Main System, took median of Little Falls range as that’s the main source and Wanaque which is blended with it. The other listed sources are only occasionally added
Camden n/a n/a Link
Passaic 89.0 5.2 Link Passaic Valley Main System, took median of Little Falls range as that’s the main source and Wanaque which is blended with it. The other listed sources are only occasionally added
Bayonne 82.5 4.8 Link Via Zip Lookup
East Orange 485.0 28.3 Link
Union City 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip Lookup
Vineland 27.0 1.6 Link Median of range
Hoboken 140.0 8.2 Link Purchases from Jersey City
New Brunswick n/a n/a Link
Perth Amboy 77.0 4.5 Link
Plainfield n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
West New York 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Hackensack 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Sayreville 138.0 8.1 Link
Linden n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Kearny 49.0 2.9 Link Kearny doesn’t report hardness directly, but gets water exclusively from NJDWSC, which has hardness reported in the Patterson CCR.
Fort Lee 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Atlantic City n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Fair Lawn 222.5 13.0 Link Used median of combined range
Garfield 382.0 22.3 Link
Long Branch 108.0 6.3 Link Via Zip lookup
Princeton n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Westfield n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Rahway 208.0 12.2 Link Via Zip lookup
Englewood 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Bergenfield 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Millville n/a n/a Link Report has alkalinity only
Bridgeton n/a n/a Link Water CCR not available on their website
Paramus 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Ridgewood 354.5 20.7 Link Median of range
Lodi 89.0 5.2 Link Took the blended number of PWIC and WanaqueWTP which are the main sources
Cliffside Park 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Carteret n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
South Plainfield n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Summit n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
North Plainfield n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Roselle n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Lindenwold n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Secaucus 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Elmwood Park 89.0 5.2 Link Took the blended number of PWIC and WanaqueWTP which are the main sources
Glassboro 40.6 2.4 Link Median of range
Pleasantville n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Morristown 233.5 13.6 Link Median of range
Palisades Park 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Hawthorne 168.3 9.8 Link Took average of all 4 listed treatment facilities
Tinton Falls 108.0 6.3 Link Via Zip lookup
Harrison 89.0 5.2 Link Took the blended number of PWIC and WanaqueWTP which are the main sources
Point Pleasant 64.3 3.8 Link
Rutherford 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Dover 100.0 5.8 Link
Dumont 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Madison n/a n/a Link
New Milford 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
North Arlington 89.0 5.2 Link Took the blended number of PWIC and WanaqueWTP which are the main sources
South River 136.0 7.9 Link
Phillipsburg 150.0 8.8 Link
Tenafly 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Asbury Park 108.0 6.3 Link Via Zip lookup
Highland Park 86.0 5.0 Link
Metuchen 101.0 5.9 Link
Fairview 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Hammonton n/a n/a Link
Ramsey n/a n/a Link
Edgewater 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Middlesex 101.0 5.9 Link
Hopatcong n/a n/a Link
Collingswood n/a n/a Link
Roselle Park n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
New Providence n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Eatontown 108.0 6.3 Link Via Zip lookup
Woodland Park 89.0 5.2 Link Took the blended number of PWIC and WanaqueWTP which are the main sources
Florham Park n/a n/a Link
Ridgefield Park 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Red Bank 86.5 5.1 Link
Oakland 315.0 18.4 Link Average of range
Somerville n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Freehold n/a n/a Link
Haddonfield n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Glen Rock 354.5 20.7 Link Covered by Ridgewood
Hasbrouck Heights 108.5 6.3 Link Via Zip lookup
River Edge 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Bound Brook n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Wallington 129.0 7.5 Link Average of range
Bellmawr n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Ringwood 140.0 8.2 Link Weighted average of sources
Guttenberg 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Gloucester City 96.0 5.6 Link
Ridgefield 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Westwood 154.0 9.0 Link Via Zip lookup
Ocean City n/a n/a Link Via Zip lookup
Wanaque 49.0 2.9 Link
Beachwood n/a n/a Link
Franklin Lakes 283.0 16.5 Link Via Zip lookup
Pompton Lakes 233.0 13.6 Link
Totowa 89.0 5.2 Link Took the blended number of PWIC and WanaqueWTP which are the main sources
Top 100 New Jersey cities by population and their reported water hardness
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon

Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.

These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.

Back to blog