Newark Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The City of Newark Department of Water & Sewer Utilities provides drinking water to approximately 280,000 residents in Essex County. Water is sourced from the Newark System, drawing from the Canistear, Oak Ridge, and Clinton Reservoirs in the Pequannock Watershed, supplemented by the Wanaque Reservoir. Raw water is treated at the Little Falls Treatment Plant (capacity 140 MGD) and the East Orange Treatment Plant, distributed through 700 miles of mains. Annual Consumer Confidence Reports are accessible via water.newarknj.gov/waterquality.

The supply draws from the 156-square-mile Pequannock River Watershed in the New Jersey Highlands, a forested public water supply area with minimal development. Underlying geology consists of ancient Precambrian crystalline rocks — gneiss, granite, and schist from the Readington and Byram Formations — resistant to weathering and low in soluble minerals. With no carbonate-rich sediments like limestone or dolomite, surface water remains naturally soft, shaped by precipitation dilution and limited bedrock interaction in this glaciated terrain.

As a soft-water supply, Newark's water produces minimal scale buildup, reducing risk to water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers compared to harder regions. Soap lathers easily, and dry skin or spotting is rare. No water softener is needed; instead, monitor for corrosion potential in pipes due to low mineral buffering. Annual fixture cleaning and checking aerators for sediment suffice for routine maintenance. Water maintains a pH of 6.7–8.0; lead and copper remain well below action limits; no PFAS exceedances are noted in recent CCRs; iron is naturally low (ND–0.7 mg/L).