How does Cohoes's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Cohoes (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Cohoes Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

182 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Cohoes, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Cohoes	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Cohoes compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Cohoes, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Watervliet, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Troy, New York	60.7 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Latham, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Clifton Park, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Cohoes compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Cohoes	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Cohoes's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 182 mg/LpH: 7.5

The City of Cohoes Water Department serves approximately 16,883 residents across Cohoes, New York (Albany County). Water is drawn from the Mohawk River, a surface water source, and pumped from the National Grid Canal on North Mohawk Street to a 75-million-gallon raw water storage reservoir on Upper Vliet Boulevard. The utility treats water with chlorine disinfection before distribution. Contact: 518-528-2303; mailing address: City Hall, 97 Mohawk Street, Cohoes, NY 12047. The 2024 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report confirms no violations and all detected constituents below New York State requirements.

Cohoes lies within the Mohawk River watershed in the Capital District, an area underlain by Ordovician and Silurian carbonate bedrock — limestone and dolostone. These mineral-rich formations contribute dissolved calcium and magnesium to the river system, resulting in a moderately hard water supply. The surface water source and regional geology combine to produce water with moderate mineral content typical of the Capital District, without the elevated hardness of deep carbonate aquifer systems.

At moderately hard levels, residents may notice soap scum buildup, reduced detergent effectiveness, and mineral deposits on fixtures and appliances over time. Water softening is recommended for households concerned with appliance longevity and cleaning efficiency, though hardness does not pose health risks. Regular descaling of kettles and showerheads is beneficial. The utility uses chlorine disinfection; trihalomethanes (disinfection byproducts) have been detected. PFAS monitoring data is on record with no compounds currently above EPA health-based guidelines. Lead and copper compliance testing is available through the water department.

Geology & Source: Mohawk River watershed, Capital District, New York; Ordovician and Silurian limestone and dolostone formations contribute dissolved calcium and magnesium; surface water source produces moderately hard supply typical of the region's carbonate geology

Other New York Water Reports

Watervliet

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Troy

60.7 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Latham

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Clifton Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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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 Cohoes's water safe to drink?

Yes. Cohoes's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Cohoes?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Cohoes's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Cohoes compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Cohoes (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Cohoes is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

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.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

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.

Measured

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.

Modelled

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.

Calculated

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.