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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Lakewood (60 mg/L) is 91 mg/L softer than average.

Lakewood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

60mg/L

Moderately Hard

3.5 grains per gallon

Source

reservoir

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

143 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.16

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

60mg/L as CaCO₃Soft

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 Lakewood, your appliances are currently losing 8% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Lakewood	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.6 yrs	8.5 yrs	-11%
Washing Machine	11.4 yrs	12 yrs	-5%
Water Heater	13.2 yrs	15 yrs	-12%

Regional Water Comparison

How Lakewood compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Lakewood, New Jersey	60 mg/L	291.9 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Brick, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Toms River, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	41.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Holiday City-Berkeley, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Point Pleasant, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	41.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Lakewood compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Lakewood	60 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Lakewood's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 143 mg/LpH: 7

Lakewood Township Municipal Utilities Authority (LTMUA) serves over 100,000 residents and 27,614 customers across Lakewood and nearby areas in Ocean County, New Jersey. The utility sources water from groundwater wells tapping the local Coastal Plain aquifer and purchases surface water from regional providers. Key treatment facilities include the New Hampshire Avenue and Shorrock Street Water Treatment Plants, where air stripping, filtration, pre-oxidation with chlorine, and hypochlorite disinfection are applied. Granular activated carbon systems are being added to address emerging contaminants.

The watershed encompasses the groundwater recharge areas of Ocean County within New Jersey's Outer Coastal Plain, influenced by Pleistocene and Holocene sediments overlying Cretaceous sands and clays. The primary aquifer is the unconfined Cohansey-Kirkwood system, featuring quartz sands interbedded with glauconitic marls and calcareous shell beds that contribute dissolved calcium and magnesium. This geology produces a moderately mineralized groundwater supply, while purchased surface water from regional reservoirs adds a softer component, creating a mixed character shaped by limestone dissolution and sedimentary leaching. The 2020–2022 Consumer Confidence Report lists hardness at 60–140 ppm.

Moderately hard water in Lakewood leads to moderate scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and causing soap scum on fixtures and spotted dishes. Laundry may feel stiff and pipes can accumulate deposits over time. Annual deliming of heaters, vinegar treatments for fixtures, and installing a water softener are recommended for households experiencing noticeable effects. Sodium reaches up to 30 ppm and iron occasionally exceeds secondary taste limits. PFAS including PFOA and chromium-6 have been detected above EWG health guidelines in advocacy testing, and arsenic was noted at elevated levels in some analyses, though the utility maintains compliance with federal standards. Contact LTMUA at 732-363-4422 for the latest Consumer Confidence Report.

Geology & Source: Ocean County Outer Coastal Plain — Cretaceous Cohansey Sand and Kirkwood Formation; unconsolidated quartz sands interbedded with glauconitic marls and calcareous shell beds dissolve calcium and magnesium; purchased surface water blends to moderate

Other New Jersey Water Reports

Brick

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Toms River

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Holiday City-Berkeley

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Point Pleasant

≈ 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 Lakewood's water safe to drink?

Yes. Lakewood's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 60 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Lakewood?

Lakewood's water is moderately hard at 60 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Lakewood compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Lakewood (60 mg/L) is 91 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 Lakewood 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.