Somerville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
279.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.33
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 Somerville, your appliances are currently losing 17% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Somerville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -35% |
| Washing Machine | 9 yrs | 12 yrs | -25% |
| Water Heater | 10.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -29% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Somerville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Somerville, New Jersey | 125.5 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Manville, New Jersey | 46.5 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Bradley Gardens, New Jersey | 59 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Bridgewater, New Jersey | 148.5 mg/L | 11.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Martinsville, New Jersey | 52 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Somerville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Somerville | 125.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Somerville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Somerville, New Jersey, in Somerset County — the Somerset County seat adjacent to Bridgewater on the Raritan River in central New Jersey — receives its water from the New Jersey American Water, drawing from Round Valley Reservoir (Somerset County) through the central New Jersey distribution.
The moderately hard 125.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 279.4 mg/L reflect the central New Jersey Somerset County Raritan supply's moderate calcareous character — the Precambrian Highlands Gneiss insoluble and Triassic Newark Basin basalt slightly calcareous produce moderate water in the Raritan valley communities (compare Bound Brook NJ: 134/297 in Somerset County comparable; Somerville slightly softer from the upper Raritan Round Valley Reservoir dilutant). The Round Valley-Raritan system at Somerset County — Precambrian Highlands Gneiss (insoluble — primary dilutant), Triassic Newark Basin basalt (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Raritan alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 125.5 mg/L with TDS 279, Somerville's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 10.0 ppt is high — a certified drinking water filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended — the Somerset County central New Jersey pharmaceutical and industrial corridor contribute to Somerville's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Somerville in Somerset County is served by New Jersey American Water drawing from Round Valley Reservoir — the Raritan watershed drains Precambrian Highlands Gneiss (insoluble) and Triassic Newark Basin basalt (slightly calcareous) — NJ Somerset County Raritan Precambrian-Triassic supply produces moderately hard water at 125.5 mg/L with TDS 279.4 mg/L.