Garfield Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Garfield, New Jersey, in Bergen County — a major northeast New Jersey urban community (Garfield is a significant Bergen County city on the Passaic River — one of the most densely populated cities in New Jersey (itself one of the most densely populated states in the US); Garfield is historically important as a major textile and manufacturing center in the Passaic River Valley, and historically had one of the largest Polish-American communities in New Jersey), a diverse Bergen County community with a significant Ecuadorian-American, Mexican-American, Colombian-American, and Polish-American population (Garfield has been transformed demographically from a Polish-American working-class city to one of New Jersey's most diverse Latin American-American communities), adjacent to Clifton and Passaic in the north Passaic River Valley corridor, and a community with significant industrial heritage — draws its municipal water supply from the Passaic River via the Garfield Water Department. Water hardness in Garfield measures 51.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.

Garfield's moderate softness reflects the Passaic River watershed's calcareous-poor Newark Basin Triassic geology. The Passaic River watershed at Garfield–Bergen County drains the Triassic Newark Basin Passaic Formation (calcareous-poor red sandstone and shale). Garfield Water Department applies effective treatment, producing the moderately soft 51.5 mg/L.

With hardness at 51.5 mg/L, Garfield residents enjoy moderately soft water. Garfield Water Department consistently delivers water meeting all New Jersey DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.