Rutherford Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
93.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.15
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 Rutherford, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Rutherford | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -8% |
| Washing Machine | 11.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -4% |
| Water Heater | 13.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -11% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Rutherford compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rutherford, New Jersey | 56 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Lyndhurst, New Jersey | 39 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Passaic, New Jersey | 140 mg/L | 10.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| North Arlington, New Jersey | 107 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Nutley, New Jersey | 119 mg/L | 9.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Rutherford compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rutherford | 56 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Rutherford's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Rutherford, New Jersey, in Bergen County — a Bergen County borough adjacent to East Rutherford and Lyndhurst, in the Meadowlands corridor of northeast New Jersey along the Passaic River — receives its municipal water from Veolia Water NJ (formerly Suez Water), drawing from the Wanaque Reservoir (Passaic County, Ramapo Mountains) or the Oradell Reservoir (Hackensack River, Bergen County) through the Northeast New Jersey water distribution system.
The very soft 56 mg/L hardness and low TDS of 93.6 mg/L reflect the New Jersey Highlands supply — the Wanaque and Hackensack headwaters drain the New Jersey Highlands (Precambrian Reading Prong gneiss, Sterling Hill Formation — insoluble crystalline silicate), the Ramapo Mountains (Precambrian crystalline — insoluble), and the glacially scoured reservoir basins. The result is the very soft water characteristic of all New Jersey Highlands reservoir supplies.
At 56 mg/L, Rutherford's water is very soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain good efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 6.1 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Bergen County industrial corridor (Lodi-Garfield chemical manufacturing), Teterboro Airport (AFFF legacy in the Hackensack meadowlands), and the northeast New Jersey PFAS manufacturing corridor contribute to Rutherford's readings.
Geology & Source: Rutherford in Bergen County draws from the Suez Water NJ (now Veolia) on the Wanaque Reservoir (Passaic County) or Oradell Reservoir (Bergen County, Hackensack River) — the Wanaque and Hackensack drain the New Jersey Highlands (Precambrian Reading Prong gneiss) — New Jersey Highlands Precambrian crystalline silicate watershed produces very soft water at 56 mg/L with TDS 94 mg/L in this Bergen County New Jersey borough.