Dover Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
334.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.38
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · 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 Dover, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Dover | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -42% |
| Washing Machine | 8.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -31% |
| Water Heater | 9.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -34% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Dover compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dover, New Jersey | 142 mg/L | 10.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Randolph, New Jersey | 115 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Denville, New Jersey | 137.5 mg/L | 10.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Hopatcong, New Jersey | 106.5 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Morristown, New Jersey | 81 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Dover compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dover | 142 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Dover's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Dover, New Jersey, in Morris County — a Morris County town adjacent to Rockaway and Mine Hill, in the north Morris County Rockaway River valley — receives its municipal water from New Jersey American Water (NJAW) or local wells, drawing from the Boonton Reservoir (Rockaway River, Morris County) through the NJAW north Morris system, potentially blended with local groundwater.
The moderately hard 142 mg/L hardness and TDS of 334.7 mg/L are notably harder than Morristown NJ (81 mg/L, TDS 151) from the same Boonton Reservoir supply — suggesting Dover's water comes from a different source zone or local wells in the Triassic Newark Basin bedrock (calcareous Brunswick Formation — significantly harder than the Highlands crystalline) rather than purely from the Boonton surface reservoir.
At 142 mg/L, Dover's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium deposits. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 10.9 ppt is very elevated and warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the Picatinny Arsenal (Morris County — major PFAS source in the Rockaway River watershed — US Army AFFF storage), the Morris County industrial corridor, and the northeast New Jersey PFAS complex contribute to Dover's very elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Dover in Morris County draws from New Jersey American Water on the Rockaway River watershed (Boonton Reservoir, Morris County) or local wells — the Rockaway drains the New Jersey Highlands (Precambrian Reading Prong gneiss) with Triassic lowland contribution — New Jersey Highlands-Triassic mixed watershed produces moderately hard water at 142 mg/L with TDS 335 mg/L in this Morris County New Jersey town.