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

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

Binghamton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

123 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 Binghamton, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Binghamton	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 Binghamton compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Binghamton, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	24.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Johnson City, New York	≈ 0–60 mg/L	88.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Endwell, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Endicott, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Vestal, New York	78.5 mg/L	10.7 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Binghamton compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 123 mg/LpH: 7.5

The City of Binghamton Water Department serves the city and surrounding areas in Broome County, New York, including parts of the Town of Binghamton. Primary water is sourced from the Susquehanna River, treated at a modern, recently renovated filtration facility. A small backup groundwater well provides less than 0.5% of supply, chlorinated before distribution. Nearby utilities including the Town of Binghamton and Town of Vestal receive water directly from the City of Binghamton, sharing the same treatment infrastructure and water quality profile.

The Susquehanna River watershed spans the Appalachian Plateau, draining Devonian shale, sandstone, and minor limestone formations of the Catskill and Hamilton Groups. Glacial deposits overlay fractured bedrock aquifers, allowing groundwater interaction with carbonate-rich layers. This geology imparts a moderately mineralised character to the water, with natural hardness from calcium and magnesium leaching from sedimentary rocks, balanced by the river's dilution effects during high flow periods.

Moderately hard water causes moderate scale buildup in appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency over time. Laundry may feel stiffer and soap lathering is less effective, requiring more detergent; regular maintenance includes deliming fixtures annually and flushing water heaters. A water softener is often recommended for households to extend appliance life. Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) exceed health guidelines per third-party tests; lead and copper comply with EPA action levels (less than 15 ppb lead, less than 1.3 ppm copper). Treatment involves river withdrawal, filtration at the city plant, and chlorination for groundwater blending.

Geology & Source: Susquehanna River watershed — Appalachian Plateau; Devonian Catskill and Hamilton Groups — shale, siltstone, sandstone; glacial drift over bedrock with carbonate lenses yield moderately mineralised mixed supply

Other New York Water Reports

Johnson City

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Endwell

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Endicott

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Vestal

78.5 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Binghamton's water safe to drink?

Yes. Binghamton'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 Binghamton?

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

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