Brighton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
326.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.37
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 Brighton, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Brighton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -41% |
| Washing Machine | 8.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -30% |
| Water Heater | 10 yrs | 15 yrs | -33% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Brighton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Brighton, New York | 140 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Rochester, New York | 171.5 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Irondequoit, New York | 107.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Henrietta, New York | 142 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Gates-North Gates, New York | 99 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Brighton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Brighton | 140 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Brighton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Brighton, New York, in Monroe County — a major south Rochester suburban community (Brighton is one of the most affluent and well-regarded suburban communities in the Greater Rochester area), home of some of Rochester's premier residential neighborhoods (Brighton's Twelve Corners commercial district is a major south Rochester suburban center), a diverse Monroe County community with a significant Jewish-American, Indian-American, and Chinese-American professional population (Brighton has historically been the center of the Rochester-area Jewish-American community), and home of Monroe Community College and part of the University of Rochester medical and research corridor — draws its municipal water supply from Lake Ontario via the Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA). Water hardness in Brighton measures 140 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Brighton's moderate hardness reflects the MCWA Lake Ontario supply and Monroe County distribution characteristics. Lake Ontario receives inflow from: the Silurian Niagara Dolomite watershed (Lake Erie drainage into Ontario — the calcareous Niagaran carbonate); the Ontario basin Ordovician and Silurian calcareous limestone formations; and the Wisconsin Age calcareous Lake Ontario glaciolacustrine deposits. MCWA treats and distributes to the south Monroe County Brighton zone, producing the moderate 140 mg/L.
At 140 mg/L, Brighton residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is recommended. MCWA consistently delivers water meeting all New York State DEC and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Lake supply from Lake Ontario (Monroe County Water Authority supply) via the Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA) — the Monroe County south Rochester suburban corridor (Wisconsin Age calcareous Lake Ontario glaciolacustrine clay and till and Silurian–Devonian calcareous carbonate of the Rochester embayment; MCWA Brighton south Monroe distribution); moderately hard supply at 140 mg/L in Monroe County.