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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Camden (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Camden Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

285.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · 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 Camden, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Camden	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Camden compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Camden, New Jersey	≈ 0–59 mg/L	132.8 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Pennsport, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Gloucester City, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Whitman, Pennsylvania	132 mg/L	6.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Wharton, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Camden compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Camden	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Camden's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 285.8 mg/LpH: 7.1

The City of Camden Water Department serves Camden City in Camden County, New Jersey, sourcing water primarily from the Delaware River via intake points near the city. Water is treated at the Camden Water Treatment Plant using coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, chlorination, and fluoride adjustment. Additional supply comes from New Jersey American Water's Western System (PWSID NJ0327001), serving parts of Camden including the 11th and 12th wards and Cramer Hill. This mixed supply undergoes disinfection and corrosion control at the treatment plants.

The Delaware River watershed spans from the Appalachian Piedmont to the Coastal Plain. In Camden's local area, Cretaceous sands and clays of the Raritan and Magothy Formations dominate, alongside the Wenonah-Mount Laurel Aquifer and Englishtown Aquifer Formation. These quartz-rich, unconsolidated sands and gravels yield minimally mineralized groundwater. River water dilutes any upstream hardness, and the overall low-carbonate geology produces a soft water supply with low dissolved solids.

Soft water produces minimal scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. Soap lathers easily and skin feels less dry. Water softening is not recommended, as excessive softening could increase corrosivity and leach metals from plumbing; instead, regular filter cleaning and aerator flushing are advised. Water meets EPA standards with pH typically 7–8, lead at 1 µg/L (90th percentile), copper at 0.313 mg/L, and fluoride naturally low at 0.29 mg/L per American Water reports.

Geology & Source: Delaware River Coastal Plain; Cretaceous Wenonah-Mount Laurel Aquifer and Englishtown Aquifer — quartz sands and gravels yield low mineral content, producing soft water

Other New Jersey Water Reports

Pennsport

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Gloucester City

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Whitman

132 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Wharton

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Camden's water safe to drink?

Yes. Camden's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Camden?

Camden's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Camden compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Camden (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 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 Camden 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.