How does Brick's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Brick (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Brick Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

5.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

965 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Brick, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Brick	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Brick compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Brick, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Point Pleasant, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	41.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Lakewood, New Jersey	60 mg/L	291.9 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Toms River, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	41.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Beachwood, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Brick compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Brick	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Brick's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 965 mg/LpH: 5.7

Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority (BTMUA) serves approximately 80,722 residents in Brick Township, Ocean County, New Jersey. The utility operates a mixed water supply system drawing from the Metedeconk River and Brick Reservoir (surface water), supplemented by high-capacity groundwater wells accessing the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer at depths near 2,500 feet and contributions from the Cohansey Aquifer. The Authority supplies approximately 3.5 billion gallons annually, maintaining treatment facilities at 1551 Highway 88, West Brick, NJ 08724.

Brick Township's water supply originates from the Metedeconk River watershed and deep Cretaceous-age aquifer formations. The Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer, isolated at approximately 2,500 feet depth, is protected from surface contamination but contains dissolved minerals from surrounding rock strata contributing to the moderately hard character. Combined with surface water from the Brick Reservoir, the blended supply retains consistent mineral content characteristic of these deep Cretaceous sediments.

At moderately hard levels, scale buildup in kettles, coffee makers, dishwashers, and water heaters is noticeable over time. Boilers and water heaters are particularly susceptible to efficiency loss from mineral accumulation. Spotting on glassware and reduced shower lather are common. A point-of-use softener or whole-house softening system is often recommended. The supply may contain Dacthal, Tribromoacetic acid, and Nitrite; the New Jersey Division of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Source Water Assessment is available at www.state.nj.us/dep/swap.

Geology & Source: Metedeconk River and Brick Reservoir surface water plus deep Cretaceous Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer (~2,500 ft) and Cohansey Aquifer — dissolved minerals produce moderately hard water

Other New Jersey Water Reports

Point Pleasant

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Lakewood

60 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Toms River

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Beachwood

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brick's water safe to drink?

Yes. Brick's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Brick?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Brick's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Brick compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Brick (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Brick is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.