Cambria Heights Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
114.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.19
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 Cambria Heights, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Cambria Heights | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -15% |
| Washing Machine | 10.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -9% |
| Water Heater | 12.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -15% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Cambria Heights compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cambria Heights, New York | 72 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Laurelton, New York | 73.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Elmont, New York | 81 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Queens Village, New York | 138.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Rosedale, New York | 73.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Cambria Heights compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cambria Heights | 72 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Cambria Heights's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Cambria Heights, New York, in Queens County — a southeastern Queens neighborhood adjacent to Elmont and Jamaica in the southeastern Queens residential corridor — receives its municipal water from NYC DEP, which distributes the Catskill-Delaware Reservoir supply to all five boroughs through the NYC tunnel system. Cambria Heights receives the standard NYC DEP Queens distribution supply.
The moderately soft 72 mg/L hardness and TDS of 114.3 mg/L are consistent with the standard NYC DEP Catskill-Delaware supply for Queens (the Hollis reading of 168 mg/L in the same borough is anomalously harder, likely reflecting local distribution zone or source anomalies). The Catskill-Delaware reservoirs (the Ashokan, Schoharie, Pepacton, Neversink, Rondout, and Cannonsville Reservoirs) drain the Catskill Mountains — terrain underlain by Devonian shale and sandstone of the Catskill Delta clastic wedge — producing the characteristically soft, clean supply familiar to New York City residents.
At 72 mg/L, Cambria Heights's water is moderately soft — comfortable for household use. Scale forms slowly over many months, soap lathers well, and appliances operate efficiently. Semi-annual descaling is adequate. The PFAS level of 3.5 ppt is low for the NYC system — the Catskill-Delaware watershed's limited direct military-industrial PFAS sources produce the relatively clean background for this Queens neighborhood.
Geology & Source: Cambria Heights in Queens County is served by NYC DEP on the Catskill-Delaware Reservoir system — the Catskill-Delaware watersheds drain Devonian-Silurian shale and sandstone of the Catskill Delta with very limited carbonate — NYC Catskill-Delaware crystalline and Devonian clastic watershed drainage produces moderately soft water at 72 mg/L with TDS 114 mg/L in this Queens New York neighborhood.