Palisades Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.9 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
313.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.36
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 Palisades Park, your appliances are currently losing 18% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Palisades Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -40% |
| Washing Machine | 8.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -28% |
| Water Heater | 10.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -32% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Palisades Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Palisades Park, New Jersey | 136 mg/L | 10.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Ridgefield Park, New Jersey | 37.5 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Fort Lee, New Jersey | 39.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Cliffside Park, New Jersey | 105.5 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Fairview, New Jersey | 170 mg/L | 12.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Palisades Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Palisades Park | 136 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Palisades Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Palisades Park, New Jersey, in Bergen County — a densely populated Bergen County borough on the Palisades ridge directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan, known for its extremely large Korean American community (one of the highest concentrations in the continental US), adjacent to the George Washington Bridge corridor — receives its municipal water from Suez Water New Jersey (formerly United Water), which draws from the Hackensack River system or the Wanaque Reservoir (the Palisades Interstate Park watershed in the northern New Jersey Highlands).
The moderately hard 136 mg/L hardness and TDS of 313.9 mg/L reflect the Bergen County supply's Wanaque-Hackensack watershed character. The Wanaque Reservoir and the Ramapo River tributaries drain the New Jersey Highlands (Proterozoic Precambrian gneiss — soft crystalline) and the Triassic Newark Basin (the Lockatong Formation and Brunswick Formation — calcareous black and red shale, and fine-grained calcareous sandstone). The Triassic calcareous redbeds and lacustrine shales contribute moderate dissolved calcium and bicarbonate to the Hackensack-Wanaque watershed, while the Precambrian gneiss terrain contributes soft crystalline water, producing the moderately hard blended supply characteristic of Bergen County.
At 136 mg/L, Palisades Park's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 10.6 ppt is very high and warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Teterboro Airport (historically one of the busiest general aviation airports in the US, a major AFFF user), the dense northeastern New Jersey industrial corridor (the Meadowlands complex), and the Bergen County-Hackensack River chemical industry legacy all contribute to Bergen County's elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Palisades Park in Bergen County draws from United Water (now Suez Water NJ) treating the Hackensack River or the Wanaque Reservoir (Palisades Interstate Water Supply) — the Wanaque and Ramapo watersheds drain the Precambrian Highlands (Proterozoic gneiss) and the Triassic Newark Basin (calcareous shale) — Precambrian and Triassic mixed watershed drainage produces moderately hard water at 136 mg/L with TDS 314 mg/L in this Bergen County New Jersey borough.