Caringbah Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
71.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
A$0.13
energy & soap waste
Source: BOM National Performance Report & ADWG · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Caringbah, your appliances are currently losing 6% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Caringbah | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -4% |
| Washing Machine | 12 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 13.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -7% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Caringbah compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Caringbah, New South Wales | 42 mg/L | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Caringbah South, New South Wales | 47.5 mg/L | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Miranda, New South Wales | 88 mg/L | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Sylvania, New South Wales | 51 mg/L | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Cronulla, New South Wales | 57.5 mg/L | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Caringbah compares to the Australia average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Caringbah | 42 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| Australia National Avg | 125 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Boronia Top Rated | 5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Caringbah's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Caringbah's drinking water is supplied by Sydney Water, treated at the Prospect Water Filtration Plant drawing predominantly from Warragamba Dam (Nepean River system) for the Sutherland Shire LGA outer southern Sydney distribution in New South Wales. Water hardness in Caringbah is measured at 42 mg/L — classified as soft — well below the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) aesthetic guideline of 200 mg/L published by NHMRC. Caringbah — the commercial centre of the Sutherland Shire, home to the Caringbah Town Centre on Karimbla Road, the Caringbah High School and South Sydney Rabbitohs Sutherland Shire community, the shopping strip serving the wider Sutherland Shire residential community, and the family-oriented residential suburb adjacent to Port Hacking — receives very soft supply consistent with the predominantly soft character of the Sutherland Shire southern Sydney distribution.
Caringbah's soft supply reflects a predominantly Warragamba Dam contribution with minimal Hawkesbury-Nepean blending at this outer southern Sutherland Shire Prospect distribution sub-zone. Warragamba Dam collects rainfall from the Blue Mountains sandstone plateau and Kanangra–Boyd granite uplands — chemically resistant terrain contributing negligible dissolved minerals. The Caringbah Sutherland southern distribution at 42 mg/L and TDS 71.3 mg/L is consistent with the soft character of the adjacent Caringbah South sub-zone (47.5 mg/L), confirming the consistently soft Warragamba-dominant supply of the Sutherland Shire distribution corridor.
Caringbah residents enjoy very low limescale accumulation on taps and in kettles — descaling every two to three months is typically adequate. Hot water systems accumulate minimal scale. The very low lead reading (0.001 mg/L) is excellent. Sydney Water provides water quality information at sydneywater.com.au, with all ADWG health standards consistently met. Caringbah's Sutherland Shire commercial centre and the Port Hacking residential community benefit from this soft, clean supply meeting all ADWG standards.
Geology & Source: Supplied by Sydney Water via the Prospect Water Filtration Plant drawing predominantly from Warragamba Dam — the Caringbah Sutherland Shire outer southern Sydney supply carries soft water at 42 mg/L with very low TDS of 71.3 mg/L, reflecting the predominantly Warragamba-dominant, very soft character of the Sutherland Shire southern Sydney supply (Caringbah South 47.5 mg/L), consistently one of the softest Sydney Water metropolitan zones.