Raymond Terrace Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
120.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
A$0.21
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 Raymond Terrace, your appliances are currently losing 9% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Raymond Terrace | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -13% |
| Washing Machine | 11.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -8% |
| Water Heater | 12.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -14% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Raymond Terrace compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Raymond Terrace, New South Wales | 66.5 mg/L | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Wallsend, New South Wales | 109 mg/L | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| East Maitland, New South Wales | 92 mg/L | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Newcastle, New South Wales | 48 mg/L | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| New Lambton, New South Wales | 26 mg/L | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Raymond Terrace compares to the Australia average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Raymond Terrace | 66.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| Australia National Avg | 125 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Boronia Top Rated | 5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Raymond Terrace's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Raymond Terrace's drinking water is supplied by Hunter Water, drawing from the Chichester Dam (Allyn River, Barrington Tops catchment) and Grahamstown Dam (Williams River) for the Port Stephens LGA administrative centre in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales. Water hardness in Raymond Terrace is measured at 66.5 mg/L — classified as slightly hard — within the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) aesthetic guideline of 200 mg/L published by NHMRC. Raymond Terrace — the administrative centre of the Port Stephens LGA on the Hunter River floodplain north of Newcastle, known for the Raymond Terrace Bowling and Recreation Club, the town centre on William Street, the gateway to the Port Stephens tourism and boating precinct, and the Hunter Valley regional service community — receives a relatively soft supply from the Hunter Water catchment system.
Raymond Terrace's soft supply reflects the predominantly Barrington Tops catchment character of the Chichester Dam source. The Chichester Dam on the Allyn River drains the Barrington Tops National Park — drained by Permian volcanic and igneous terrain (Barrington Tops basalt plateau and rhyolite ignimbrite) that is chemically resistant, contributing low dissolved minerals. The Raymond Terrace Port Stephens Hunter Water distribution at 66.5 mg/L and TDS 120.2 mg/L reflects the moderately soft Hunter catchment character, consistent with the low-mineral soft water typical of the Hunter Water supply network for the Port Stephens LGA.
Raymond Terrace residents enjoy low to moderate limescale accumulation on taps and in kettles — descaling every two to three months is typically adequate. Hot water systems accumulate minimal scale. The low lead reading (0.002 mg/L) is excellent. Hunter Water provides water quality information at hunterwater.com.au, with all ADWG health standards consistently met. Raymond Terrace's Port Stephens LGA administrative community and the Hunter River gateway residential precinct benefit from this soft, clean supply.
Geology & Source: Supplied by Hunter Water from the Chichester Dam and Grahamstown Dam catchments — the Raymond Terrace Port Stephens Hunter Valley regional supply carries slightly hard water at 66.5 mg/L with low TDS of 120.2 mg/L, reflecting the moderately soft character of the Barrington Tops Permian volcanic and igneous catchment geology supplying the Hunter Water distribution for the Port Stephens LGA.