Depew Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
257.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.32
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 Depew, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Depew | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -34% |
| Washing Machine | 9.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -24% |
| Water Heater | 10.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -28% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Depew compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Depew, New York | 120.5 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Cheektowaga, New York | 123 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| East Amherst, New York | 156 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| West Seneca, New York | 152 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Eggertsville, New York | 67.5 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Depew compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Depew | 120.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Depew's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Depew, New York, in Erie County — an Erie County village adjacent to Lancaster and Cheektowaga in the east Buffalo suburb — receives its water from the Erie County Water Authority (ECWA), drawing from Lake Erie (Erie County) through the Buffalo metro distribution.
The moderately hard 120.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 257.3 mg/L are softer than the Kenmore ECWA Lake Erie supply (147.5 mg/L) — reflecting the east Buffalo ECWA service zone's slightly different Lake Erie blend or treatment characteristic at this east Erie County position. Lake Erie at Erie County receives drainage from the Great Lakes Basin — Silurian Lockport Dolomite (dolomite — primary TDS contributor), Silurian Niagara Group (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Devonian Hamilton Formation (calcareous shale — secondary contributor). The Silurian dolomite and calcareous input produce the moderately hard western New York supply.
At 120.5 mg/L, Depew's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (Niagara County — AFFF, the primary western New York PFAS source), the Niagara chemical industrial corridor, and the Lake Erie PFAS background contribute to Depew's readings.
Geology & Source: Depew in Erie County draws from the Erie County Water Authority on Lake Erie (Erie County, western New York) — Lake Erie receives drainage from Silurian Lockport Dolomite and Silurian Niagara Group calcareous — New York Erie County Lake Erie Silurian dolomite watershed produces moderately hard water at 120.5 mg/L with TDS 257.3 mg/L in this Erie County New York village.