Cambria Heights Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~60–119 mg/L
Moderately Hardestimated · not lab-verified
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
$0.24
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Cambria Heights | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -12% |
| Washing Machine | 10.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -12% |
| Water Heater | 13.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -12% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Cambria Heights compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cambria Heights, New York | ≈ 60–119 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Laurelton, New York | ≈ 60–120 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Elmont, New York | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Queens Village, New York | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Rosedale, New York | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Cambria Heights compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cambria Heights | ≈ 60–119 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Cambria Heights home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Cambria Heights's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Cambria Heights is a neighborhood in Queens County, New York City, served by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP). Drinking water is delivered via the Catskill-Delaware Reservoir system, which supplies reservoir-sourced water to all five boroughs, including Queens. The NYC DEP manages treatment and distribution infrastructure for this system, ensuring water delivery to residential neighborhoods across Queens, including Cambria Heights. Specific treatment plant details for this distribution zone were not confirmed in available reports.
The Catskill-Delaware watersheds drain Devonian-Silurian shale and sandstone of the Catskill Delta, geological formations characterized by very limited carbonate content. This siliceous, low-carbonate bedrock yields minimal dissolved calcium and magnesium as water percolates through, producing a moderately soft supply. The crystalline and Devonian clastic watershed drainage of the Catskill-Delaware system results in naturally low mineralization, typical of water sourced from these upstate New York formations.
Moderately soft water produces minimal scale buildup in appliances such as water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, meaning most households will not require a water softener. Soap lathers effectively and appliance lifespan is generally not significantly impacted by mineral deposits at this hardness level. Standard maintenance of water-using appliances is still recommended. Detailed water quality data specific to this neighborhood was limited in available reports; residents should consult NYC DEP or NYC311 for current Consumer Confidence Reports and contaminant test results.
Geology & Source: NYC DEP Catskill-Delaware system; Devonian-Silurian shale and sandstone of the Catskill Delta — very limited carbonate yields moderately soft water in this Queens neighborhood
Other New York Water Reports
Report an Issue
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 Cambria Heights's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Cambria Heights?
How does Cambria Heights compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Cambria Heights is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.