Tenafly Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
385.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.42
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 Tenafly, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Tenafly | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -47% |
| Washing Machine | 7.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -35% |
| Water Heater | 9.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -37% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Tenafly compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Tenafly, New Jersey | 156 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Englewood, New Jersey | 162.5 mg/L | 12.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Bergenfield, New Jersey | 43 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Dumont, New Jersey | 144.5 mg/L | 11 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| New Milford, New Jersey | 100.5 mg/L | 8.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Tenafly compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Tenafly | 156 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Tenafly's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Tenafly, New Jersey, in Bergen County — a Bergen County borough adjacent to Englewood and Cresskill in east Bergen County near the Palisades — receives its water from United Water (now Suez Water New Jersey), drawing from the Hackensack River watershed system (Bergen County) through the east New Jersey distribution.
The hard 156 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 385.4 mg/L are substantially harder than the NJAW Raritan-supplied central NJ communities (Fords: 38 mg/L) — reflecting the Hackensack River system's calcareous Bergen County character, possibly with local Triassic Brunswick Formation calcareous input. The Hackensack River at Bergen County drains the New Jersey Highlands — Precambrian Losee Tonalite Gneiss (insoluble), Triassic Brunswick Formation (calcareous redbed — primary hardness contributor at the Bergen County-Hackensack zone), and Triassic Palisades Sill diabase (insoluble). The Triassic calcareous redbed input produces the hard east Bergen County supply.
At 156 mg/L, Tenafly's water is hard — scale builds steadily in kettles and appliances, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and water heaters should be descaled annually. Monthly descaling is recommended. The PFAS level of 11.7 ppt is very high — Picatinny Arsenal (Morris County — AFFF), the Hackensack River industrial corridor (west Bergen PFAS industrial legacy), and the north New Jersey military-industrial PFAS complex contribute to Tenafly's very elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Tenafly in Bergen County draws from United Water on the Hackensack River Watershed (Bergen County, east New Jersey) — the Hackensack system drains the New Jersey Highlands (Precambrian Losee Tonalite Gneiss — insoluble, Triassic Brunswick Formation — slightly calcareous) — New Jersey Bergen County Hackensack River Highlands calcareous watershed produces hard water at 156 mg/L with TDS 385.4 mg/L.