West Milford Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
108.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.17
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 West Milford, your appliances are currently losing 8% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In West Milford | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -12% |
| Washing Machine | 11.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -6% |
| Water Heater | 13.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -13% |
Regional Water Comparison
How West Milford compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ West Milford, New Jersey | 63 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Ringwood, New Jersey | 39 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Oakland, New Jersey | 121 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Wayne, New Jersey | 56 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Mahwah, New Jersey | 43 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How West Milford compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ West Milford | 63 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your West Milford home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes West Milford's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
West Milford, New Jersey, in Passaic County — a major north New Jersey Highlands reservoir watershed community (West Milford is a significant Passaic County township — one of the largest municipalities by area in New Jersey; West Milford is situated in the New Jersey Highlands at the northern tip of Passaic County, bordering the Wanaque Reservoir and the Monksville Reservoir (two of the most important water supply reservoirs in New Jersey — the Wanaque Reservoir is the largest reservoir in New Jersey and is a primary water supply for the northeastern NJ metropolitan area); West Milford is a primarily rural and woodland community with an extremely high proportion of preserved open space (the Wawayanda State Park, Abram S. Hewitt State Forest, and the Pequannock Watershed are major natural areas in and adjacent to West Milford; the Highlands region is one of the most important water supply protection areas in the northeastern United States)), a diverse Passaic County community with a primarily working-class and middle-class suburban family and rural population, adjacent to the Ringwood and Long Pond Ironworks State Historic Site — draws its municipal water supply via the Passaic Valley Water Commission. Water hardness in West Milford measures 63 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
West Milford's moderate softness reflects the north NJ Passaic County Highlands reservoir watershed's calcareous-poor character. The Wanaque Reservoir watershed drains the Precambrian Highlands gneiss with effective treatment, producing the moderately soft 63 mg/L.
With hardness at 63 mg/L, West Milford residents enjoy moderately soft water. Passaic Valley Water Commission consistently delivers water meeting all New Jersey DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Wanaque Reservoir via the Passaic Valley Water Commission — the Passaic County north NJ Highlands West Milford corridor (Precambrian calcareous-poor Highlands crystalline gneiss — the calcareous-poor north NJ Passaic County Highlands reservoir watershed; effective treatment); moderately soft supply at 63 mg/L in Passaic County.