Brownsville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The Village of Brownville Public Water Supply (ID#22002332) serves 1,650 people through 380 connections in Jefferson County, New York, sourcing water from two drilled groundwater wells on Washington Street and interconnecting with the Cape Vincent system via the Development Authority of the North Country. Treatment applies chlorine disinfection and UV treatment as required by the New York State Department of Health. The utility publishes annual Consumer Confidence Reports detailing compliance with state standards at villageofbrownvilleny.gov.

Brownville's supply originates from local glacial aquifers in the St. Lawrence Valley watershed, with wells accessing formations including the Cambrian Potsdam Sandstone and overlying glacial drift. These sedimentary rocks release minerals during groundwater flow, imparting a moderately mineralised character to the water. The source water assessment rates the wells as medium-high susceptibility to nitrates and microbes due to thin soil cover and nearby land uses, shaping a chemistry balanced by natural dissolution from carbonate and siliceous Ordovician and Cambrian bedrock without extreme softness or hardness.

Hardness data is unknown, but typical northern New York groundwater from these formations suggests moderate scale tendencies in dishwashers, water heaters, and kettles. Regular vinegar descaling and low-phosphate detergents help mitigate buildup; a water softener is optional unless spotting or scaling is observed, with testing recommended via local extension services. The 2023 CCR confirms all state health standards are met with no MCL violations; treatment includes chlorination and UV for disinfection, with notable susceptibility risks from nitrates and microbes due to shallow overburden.