How does Union's water compare to the national average?

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

Union Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

454.8 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 Union, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Union	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 Union compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Union, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	12.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Roselle Park, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Hillside, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Maplewood, New Jersey	47.5 mg/L	5.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Irvington, New Jersey	≈ 120–179 mg/L	10.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Union compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Union	≈ 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 Union's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 454.8 mg/LpH: 8.2

New Jersey American Water (NJAW) provides drinking water to Union, New Jersey, in Union County, serving municipalities including Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Garwood, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Union, Vauxhall, and Westfield. The utility draws from surface water reservoirs in the Hackensack River watershed — including the Wanaque and Hackensack systems — and from the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer for groundwater. Surface water is treated at the Eagle Rock and River Road plants via filtration, disinfection, and corrosion control; groundwater is treated for iron, manganese, and disinfection. NJAW publishes annual Consumer Confidence Reports detailing EPA compliance.

The Hackensack River basin sits in the Watchung Mountains and Piedmont region, where Precambrian Highlands gneiss and schist yield moderately mineralised surface flows low in dissolved minerals. The Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer, a major Coastal Plain system of Cretaceous sands, clays, and gravels, underlies central New Jersey atop Triassic-Jurassic Brunswick Formation red beds. Carbonate leaching from shell fragments and diagenetic limestones within these sedimentary layers elevates calcium and magnesium in the groundwater component, producing a harder mineral profile; blending with the softer surface water tempers overall mineralization.

Hard water in Union causes scale buildup in pipes, reducing water heater efficiency by up to 48% and increasing energy costs. Dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers suffer spotting and reduced lifespan, while soap lathering diminishes. Regular descaling of fixtures, drain screens, and annual heater flushing are advised; a water softener is recommended for households experiencing these effects. NJAW maintains pH between 7.0–8.5 via orthophosphate corrosion control and meets the Lead and Copper Rule. No specific PFAS exceedances have been reported in recent updates; treatment includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, chloramination, and fluoride addition.

Geology & Source: Piedmont province; Precambrian gneiss/schist over Hackensack watershed softens surface supply; Cretaceous Potomac-Raritan-Magothy sands and Triassic-Jurassic Brunswick Group carbonate fragments harden groundwater blend

Other New Jersey Water Reports

Roselle Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Hillside

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Maplewood

47.5 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Irvington

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Union's water safe to drink?

Yes. Union'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 Union?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Union'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 Union compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Union (≈ 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 Union 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.