Rahway Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
461 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.47
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 Rahway, your appliances are currently losing 23% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Rahway | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -55% |
| Washing Machine | 7.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -41% |
| Water Heater | 8.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -43% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Rahway compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rahway, New Jersey | 175.5 mg/L | 12.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Avenel, New Jersey | 176.5 mg/L | 12.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Linden, New Jersey | 177.5 mg/L | 12.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Clark, New Jersey | 103.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Colonia, New Jersey | 112 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Rahway compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rahway | 175.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Rahway's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Rahway, New Jersey, in Union County — a major northeast New Jersey Union County city (Rahway is a significant Union County city — a northeast New Jersey city on the Rahway River with an important pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing heritage; Rahway was historically home of Merck & Co. (one of the most important pharmaceutical companies in the world has its historical headquarters in Rahway and Kenilworth — the Rahway area has been one of the most important pharmaceutical research centers in the United States since the early 20th century)), home of the Union County Arts Center (the major performing arts venue in Union County — housed in a restored historic theater), a diverse Union County community with a significant African-American, Latino-American, and working-class population, adjacent to Linden and Carteret in the northeast New Jersey industrial corridor, home of a growing NJ Transit Rahway station commuter corridor — draws its municipal water supply via New Jersey American Water. Water hardness in Rahway measures 175.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
Rahway's hard supply reflects the northeast New Jersey Union County NJAW distribution zone's characteristics. The NJAW distributes Raritan Basin supply through the northeast New Jersey Union County Rahway zone with limited treatment, producing the hard 175.5 mg/L.
At 175.5 mg/L, Rahway residents face regular hard water challenges. Monthly descaling is recommended. 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 Rahway River watershed (Surprise Lake) via the New Jersey American Water (NJAW) — the Union County northeast New Jersey New York metropolitan Rahway corridor (Triassic calcareous-moderate Newark Basin Raritan Formation — the calcareous-moderate northeast New Jersey Triassic Piedmont; NJAW distribution to Rahway zone); hard supply at 175.5 mg/L in Union County.