New Brunswick Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
196.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.26
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 New Brunswick, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In New Brunswick | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -25% |
| Washing Machine | 10 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -22% |
Regional Water Comparison
How New Brunswick compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ New Brunswick, New Jersey | 98 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Highland Park, New Jersey | 93.5 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Somerset, New Jersey | 124.5 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| North Brunswick, New Jersey | 116 mg/L | 9.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Edison, New Jersey | 154.5 mg/L | 11.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How New Brunswick compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ New Brunswick | 98 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes New Brunswick's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
New Brunswick, New Jersey, the Middlesex County seat on the Raritan River — home of Rutgers University (the State University of New Jersey, founded 1766 as Queen's College, one of the nine colonial colleges), a major pharmaceutical industry hub (Johnson & Johnson global headquarters), and a culturally diverse immigrant city — draws its municipal water supply from the Raritan River via the New Jersey American Water Raritan District, treating Raritan River water for the New Brunswick area. Water hardness in New Brunswick measures 98 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
New Brunswick's moderate softness reflects the Raritan River's diverse New Jersey watershed geology. The Raritan River above New Brunswick drains: the Watchung Basalt ridge (Jurassic CAMP basalt — calcium-poor); the Ramapo Mountains Precambrian Fordham Gneiss (calcium-poor crystalline basement); the Triassic Newark Basin calcareous red bed sandstone (Stockton and Lockatong Formations — some calcareous contribution); and the Silurian–Devonian Kittatinny Mountain calcareous dolostone formations of the Ridge and Valley province (moderate calcareous input from the far upper Raritan watershed). The mixed soft and hard geology of the diverse Raritan watershed produces the moderate 98 mg/L at New Brunswick.
With hardness at 98 mg/L, New Brunswick residents enjoy moderately soft water with minimal scale challenges. New Jersey American Water consistently delivers water meeting all New Jersey DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Raritan River via the New Jersey American Water Raritan District and Middlesex County Utilities Authority — the Raritan River Valley draining the Watchung Basalt ridges, Ramapo Mountains Precambrian crystalline, and Triassic Newark Basin calcareous sediment; moderately soft supply at 98 mg/L in Middlesex County.