Amsterdam Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
264.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.33
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 Amsterdam, your appliances are currently losing 17% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Amsterdam | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -35% |
| Washing Machine | 9 yrs | 12 yrs | -25% |
| Water Heater | 10.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -29% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Amsterdam compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Amsterdam, New York | 124 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Glenville, New York | 63.5 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Gloversville, New York | 65 mg/L | 3.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Rotterdam, New York | 75.5 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Schenectady, New York | 165.5 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Amsterdam compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Amsterdam | 124 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Amsterdam's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Amsterdam, New York, in Montgomery County — the Montgomery County seat adjacent to Gloversville and Schenectady on the Mohawk River in the Mohawk Valley of upstate New York, a historic textile and carpet manufacturing city — receives its municipal water from the Amsterdam Water Division, drawing from Buel Lake (Chuctanunda Creek watershed, Montgomery County) or the Mohawk River through the Amsterdam municipal system.
The moderately hard 124 mg/L hardness and TDS of 264.4 mg/L reflect the Mohawk Valley's mixed Ordovician-Silurian carbonate and Catskill crystalline character. The Amsterdam watershed drains both the Mohawk Valley carbonate bedrock — Ordovician Trenton Group (Black River Limestone — high-purity limestone), Silurian Cobleskill Dolomite (carbonate platform) — and the upland Adirondack crystalline foreland (insoluble). The moderate hardness reflects this upland-valley blend.
At 124 mg/L, Amsterdam's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Stewart Air National Guard Base (Orange County — AFFF in the Mohawk-Hudson watershed), the Amsterdam industrial carpet-textile PFAS legacy, and the Mohawk Valley industrial corridor contribute to Amsterdam's readings.
Geology & Source: Amsterdam in Montgomery County draws from the Amsterdam Water Division on the Buel Lake watershed (Chuctanunda Creek, Montgomery County) — the Chuctanunda drains the Mohawk Valley uplands (Ordovician Trenton Group limestone, Silurian Cobleskill Dolomite) — New York Mohawk Valley Ordovician-Silurian carbonate drainage produces moderately hard water at 124 mg/L with TDS 264.4 mg/L in this Montgomery County New York city.