How does Short Hills's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Short Hills (80 mg/L) is 71 mg/L softer than average.

Short Hills Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

80mg/L

Moderately Hard

4.7 grains per gallon

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.8

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

252.6 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.21

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

80mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

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 Short Hills, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Short Hills	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-18%
Washing Machine	10.6 yrs	12 yrs	-12%
Water Heater	12.4 yrs	15 yrs	-17%

Regional Water Comparison

How Short Hills compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Short Hills, New Jersey	80 mg/L	268.8 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Millburn, New Jersey	80 mg/L	9.2 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Springfield, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	10.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Livingston, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	751.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Summit, New Jersey	80 mg/L	11.1 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Short Hills compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Short Hills	80 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Short Hills's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 252.6 mg/LpH: 7.8

NJ American Water supplies the Short Hills area, including Millburn Township, with water from a varied network of sources. This system draws from 25 wells, four surface water intakes along the Passaic River and Canoe Brook, and an additional 12 purchased groundwater supplies. Water undergoes treatment at facilities operated by New Jersey American Water before reaching homes and businesses. The watershed itself spans the Passaic River basin and Canoe Brook, with groundwater tapped from the Brunswick aquifer and glacial sands and gravels that sit atop older igneous and metamorphic bedrock.

The diverse geology of the Short Hills region significantly influences the water's mineral content. Groundwater, particularly from the sedimentary layers of the Brunswick formation, tends to be harder due to dissolved calcium and magnesium. Surface water picks up minerals from the weathering of glacial till and bedrock in its watershed. Runoff over fractured igneous rocks also contributes dissolved ions. This mix means the water's hardness can fluctuate, but the overall chemistry is characterized by minerals leached from these varied geological strata.

Homeowners in Short Hills may notice scale buildup on pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers, which can reduce appliance efficiency and shorten their lifespan. You might also see white deposits on faucets and in kettles, and find that soap doesn't lather as easily, requiring more detergent for cleaning. To combat these effects, regularly delime appliances and flush your water heater. For persistent issues, installing a water softener is a practical solution to protect your plumbing and appliances and improve lathering.

Geology & Source: Passaic River and Canoe Brook surface water; Brunswick aquifer groundwater; glacial deposits; igneous and metamorphic rocks; sedimentary layers contribute to hardness

Other New Jersey Water Reports

Millburn

80 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Springfield

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Livingston

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Summit

80 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Short Hills's water safe to drink?

Yes. Short Hills's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 80 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Short Hills?

Short Hills's water is moderately hard at 80 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Short Hills compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Short Hills (80 mg/L) is 71 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Short Hills is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.