Brighton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The Town of Brighton Water Department has managed the water supply for Brighton, Monroe County, New York, since 1876. Primary sources are Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake — the only two Finger Lakes not used for hydroelectric power. Supplemental water is purchased from the Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA), which draws from Lake Ontario and treats it at the Shoremont Treatment Plant on Dewey Avenue. Treated Hemlock Lake water is processed at the Hemlock Filtration Plant, flowing by gravity through century-old pipelines to three city reservoirs for re-disinfection before distribution across over 500 miles of mains.

Hemlock and Canadice Lakes lie in the Genesee River watershed, surrounded by forested uplands underlain by Devonian-age shales and sandstones beneath glacial soils. Lake Ontario's vast watershed spans the Ontario Lowlands, featuring Silurian dolomites and limestones that impart mineral character to the supply. Carbonate rocks slowly dissolve over geological time, elevating calcium and magnesium content without the aggressive hardness of arid limestone karsts — producing a moderately mineralised supply shaped by these ancient bedrock exposures and glacial deposits.

At moderately hard levels, scale buildup accumulates in water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency and lifespan while causing spotty dishes and dry skin from soap scum. Boilers and pipes accumulate deposits over time, raising energy costs. Regular vinegar descaling, low-flow aerators, and scale-inhibiting filters are practical mitigations; a water softener is recommended for households most affected. Brighton's water is fluoridated and undergoes filtration and re-disinfection; bromodichloromethane has been flagged above health guidelines as a disinfection byproduct, though the utility meets EPA standards overall.