How does Toms River's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Toms River (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Toms River Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

6.4

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.009 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

80 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Toms River, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Toms River	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Toms River compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Toms River, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	41.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Beachwood, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Bayville, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Holiday City-Berkeley, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Brick, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Toms River compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Toms River	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Toms River's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 80 mg/LpH: 6.4

Veolia Water New Jersey - Toms River serves the Township of Toms River in Ocean County, providing water to over 90,000 residents across approximately 50 square miles. Primary sources include the Toms River surface water, supplemented by groundwater from the Parkers Creek and Holly Springs well fields tapping the Wenonah-Mount Laurel aquifer, and purchases from New Jersey American Water's Lake Shenandoah reservoir system. Treatment occurs at the Parkers Creek Water Treatment Plant and other facilities, employing filtration, disinfection, and corrosion control.

The Toms River watershed drains into Barnegat Bay, shaped by Pine Barrens sands and gravels. Groundwater sources access the unconfined Cohansey-Kirkwood aquifer system and confined sands of Cretaceous age, where carbonate dissolution imparts a harder character. Surface water from the river and reservoirs carries lower mineral loads from acidic pine forest runoff and shorter bedrock exposure. This blend yields moderately mineralised water, with hardness fluctuating seasonally from precipitation dilution.

At moderately hard levels, scale buildup occurs in water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Soap lathering is reduced, leading to residue on dishes and skin dryness. Maintenance includes regular descaling of fixtures, vinegar rinses for showerheads, and annual heater flushes. A water softener is recommended for households noticing spots on glassware or film on fixtures. The utility complies with lead and copper rules via orthophosphate addition; water quality grades fair per EPA guidelines, with three contaminants exceeding health thresholds in served areas.

Geology & Source: Barnegat Bay watershed coastal plain — Quaternary sands and gravels over Cretaceous formations; Cohansey-Kirkwood aquifer and confined sands dissolve limestone and dolomite, yielding moderately mineralised mixed supply

Other New Jersey Water Reports

Beachwood

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Bayville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Holiday City-Berkeley

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Brick

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Toms River's water safe to drink?

Yes. Toms River's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Toms River?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Toms River's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Toms River compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Toms River (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 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 Toms River 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.