Atlantic City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority (ACMUA) supplies water to Atlantic City in Atlantic County, New Jersey, serving approximately 40,000 residents and visitors. The system draws from two surface water reservoirs — Kuehnle Pond Dam and Doughty Pond Dam — and 13 groundwater wells, with 11 in the Cohansey Aquifer and two in the Kirkwood Aquifer. Raw water is treated at the Atlantic City Water Treatment Plant through pretreatment, disinfection with sodium hypochlorite, turbidity removal, aeration, mixing, settling, mixed-media filtration including granular activated carbon, pH adjustment with lime, fluoride addition, and corrosion inhibitors before distribution via transmission mains, standpipe, and elevated tanks.

The Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system consists of sandy deposits from the Miocene Kirkwood Formation and overlying Pliocene-Pleistocene Cohansey sands, part of the Coastal Plain province with quaternary sediments overlying older Tertiary formations. These quartz-sand formations contain minor calcareous shell material that moderately dissolves calcium and magnesium during groundwater infiltration and flow, yielding a moderately hard supply rather than the extreme hardness of limestone karst regions. Local coastal plain tributaries feed the surface reservoirs while groundwater taps the same sandy Coastal Plain geology.

Moderately hard water promotes moderate scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Soap lathering is somewhat reduced and skin may feel drier. Regular maintenance including annual deliming of appliances, installing drain screens, and vinegar soaks helps prevent long-term scaling; a water softener is optional but recommended for households noticing spotting on glassware or film on fixtures. Water pH averages 7.25, the system complies with lead and copper rules via corrosion control, and the facility delivers an average of 10.4 million gallons daily.