Canandaigua Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
137.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.21
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 Canandaigua, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Canandaigua | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -19% |
| Washing Machine | 10.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -12% |
| Water Heater | 12.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -17% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Canandaigua compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Canandaigua, New York | 80.5 mg/L | 4.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Geneva, New York | 163 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Henrietta, New York | 142 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Brighton, New York | 140 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| West Henrietta, New York | 146 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Canandaigua compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Canandaigua | 80.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Canandaigua's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Canandaigua, New York, in Ontario County — the Ontario County seat adjacent to Geneva and Victor at the south shore of Canandaigua Lake in the Finger Lakes region — receives its water from the City of Canandaigua Water Department, drawing from Canandaigua Lake through the Finger Lakes distribution.
The moderately hard 80.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 137.7 mg/L reflect the Ontario County supply's moderate Finger Lakes character — the Devonian Onondaga Limestone and Silurian Rochester Shale are slightly calcareous formations in the Finger Lakes Basin; the Canandaigua Lake supply is consistently clean and moderately soft due to its long, deep Finger Lakes profile that limits bottom-layer carbonate dissolution (compare Geneva NY: 78/132 in Ontario County comparable; Victor NY: 83/143 in Ontario County comparable; Canandaigua consistent moderate from the same Ontario County Canandaigua Lake Devonian supply). The Canandaigua Lake — Devonian Onondaga Limestone (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Silurian Rochester Shale (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Finger Lakes glacial till (calcareous — minor TDS).
At 80.5 mg/L with TDS 138, Canandaigua's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 4.1 ppt is moderate — a certified drinking water filter provides added protection. Review the City of Canandaigua's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Canandaigua in Ontario County draws from the Canandaigua Water on the Canandaigua Lake (Ontario County, Finger Lakes New York) — the Finger Lakes at Ontario County draws from Devonian Onondaga Limestone (slightly calcareous) and Silurian Rochester Shale (slightly calcareous) — New York Ontario County Canandaigua Lake Devonian supply produces moderately hard water at 80.5 mg/L with TDS 137.7 mg/L.