Hawthorne Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.9 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
160.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.23
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 Hawthorne, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Hawthorne | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -20% |
| Washing Machine | 10.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -13% |
| Water Heater | 12.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -19% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Hawthorne compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hawthorne, New Jersey | 84.5 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Fair Lawn, New Jersey | 168.5 mg/L | 12.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Paterson, New Jersey | 141.5 mg/L | 10.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Ridgewood, New Jersey | 38 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Elmwood Park, New Jersey | 160 mg/L | 11.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Hawthorne compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hawthorne | 84.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Hawthorne home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Hawthorne's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Hawthorne, New Jersey, in Passaic County — a Passaic County borough adjacent to Paterson and Wyckoff, in the north New Jersey Passaic County suburban corridor — receives its municipal water from Suez Water New Jersey, drawing from the Wanaque Reservoir on the Wanaque River (Passaic watershed) in Passaic County, one of the primary reservoirs in the north New Jersey Suez system.
The moderately soft 84.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 160.4 mg/L reflect the New Jersey Highlands reservoir's crystalline rock watershed character. The Wanaque Reservoir drains the New Jersey Highlands — Precambrian Losee Metanorthosite, Storm King Granite, and Byram Gneiss (all insoluble silicate), with minor contact with the Sterling Hill Marble (Precambrian dolomitic marble near Ogdensburg NJ). The moderate hardness (softer than the Delaware-sourced systems) is characteristic of the Highlands reservoir supply serving northern Passaic County.
At 84.5 mg/L, Hawthorne's water is moderately soft — comfortable for household use. Scale forms slowly, soap lathers well, and appliances operate efficiently. Semi-annual descaling is adequate. The PFAS level of 7.7 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Passaic County industrial complex (Paterson legacy textile-manufacturing, the Haskell EPA Superfund site, and the north New Jersey PFAS legacy), the Picatinny Arsenal (Morris County — US Army AFFF user upstream in the Rockaway River-Passaic watershed), and the Passaic River PFAS industrial corridor contribute to Hawthorne's readings.
Geology & Source: Hawthorne in Passaic County draws from Suez Water New Jersey on the Wanaque Reservoir (Passaic River watershed, Wanaque Borough) — the Wanaque drains the New Jersey Highlands (Precambrian Reading Prong granite gneiss and Sterling Hill marble) — New Jersey Highlands crystalline silicate watershed produces moderately soft water at 84.5 mg/L with TDS 160 mg/L in this Passaic County New Jersey borough.