Upper Montclair Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.5 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
481.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.48
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 Upper Montclair, your appliances are currently losing 24% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Upper Montclair | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -58% |
| Washing Machine | 6.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -43% |
| Water Heater | 8.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -44% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Upper Montclair compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Upper Montclair, New Jersey | 180.5 mg/L | 13.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Montclair, New Jersey | 75.5 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Little Falls, New Jersey | 179.5 mg/L | 13 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Cedar Grove, New Jersey | 87 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Clifton, New Jersey | 106 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Upper Montclair compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Upper Montclair | 180.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Upper Montclair's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Upper Montclair, New Jersey, in Essex County — an Essex County community adjacent to Montclair and Clifton in north-central New Jersey — receives its water from New Jersey American Water or Suez Water, drawing from the Wanaque Reservoir system and blended Passaic Valley sources through the north-central New Jersey distribution.
The hard 180.5 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 481.4 mg/L reflect the Essex County blended supply's hard character — the upper Wanaque watershed supply is soft, but blending with harder Passaic Valley and Pequannock surface water sources significantly increases both hardness and total dissolved solids (compare Montclair NJ: 177/474 in Essex County comparable; Clifton NJ: 183/488 in Passaic County comparable; Upper Montclair consistent hard from the same Essex County Wanaque Reservoir Precambrian supply). The Wanaque watershed — Precambrian Highlands Gneiss (insoluble — dilutant), Triassic Passaic Formation (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Passaic alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 180.5 mg/L with TDS 481, Upper Montclair's water is hard with notably elevated TDS — scale builds in appliances and the taste may be affected. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 13.1 ppt is very high — a certified drinking water filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended — the Essex County northeast New Jersey industrial legacy (chemicals, Superfund sites) contributes significantly to Upper Montclair's very elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Upper Montclair in Essex County draws from the NJ American Water on the Wanaque Reservoir system (Essex County, north-central New Jersey) — the Wanaque watershed drains Precambrian Highlands Gneiss (insoluble) and Triassic Passaic Formation (slightly calcareous) — New Jersey Essex County Wanaque Reservoir Precambrian supply produces hard water at 180.5 mg/L with TDS 481.4 mg/L.