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

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

Bohemia Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

6.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

260.1 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 Bohemia, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Bohemia	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 Bohemia compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Bohemia, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Sayville, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Holbrook, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Ronkonkoma, New York	≈ 0–60 mg/L	3.4 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Lake Ronkonkoma, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Bohemia compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 260.1 mg/LpH: 6.1

The Suffolk County Water Authority supplies Bohemia, New York, drawing water from the Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system beneath Long Island. This vast underground network, comprising Quaternary glacial deposits and Cretaceous-age sand and gravel aquifers, serves as the primary source for the SCWA's extensive distribution system. The authority manages numerous wells and maintains the treatment and delivery infrastructure for the region's residents. They regularly publish water quality reports detailing their findings and adherence to regulations.

The water's journey begins in the Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system, a significant source for Long Island. Specifically, Bohemia's supply comes from Quaternary glacial deposits and Cretaceous-age sand and gravel aquifers. As water percolates through these unconsolidated sediments and the underlying Cretaceous formations, it dissolves calcium and magnesium minerals. This natural process is what gives the groundwater its characteristic moderately hard quality.

Homeowners in Bohemia might notice the effects of moderately hard water, such as soap scum on bathroom fixtures and mineral spots on dishes after washing. Appliances like water heaters and dishwashers can become less efficient over time due to mineral buildup. To combat these issues and prolong the life of their appliances, many residents on Long Island opt to install water softening systems. The Suffolk County Water Authority also reported a detection of PFOS above health advisory levels at a well on Church Street in Bohemia, which is currently under investigation and remediation.

Geology & Source: Long Island glacial deposits and Cretaceous sand/gravel aquifers; dissolution of calcium and magnesium minerals yields moderate hardness

Other New York Water Reports

Sayville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Holbrook

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Ronkonkoma

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Lake Ronkonkoma

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bohemia's water safe to drink?

Yes. Bohemia'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 Bohemia?

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

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