Far Rockaway Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
186.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.27
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 Far Rockaway, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Far Rockaway | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -26% |
| Washing Machine | 9.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Far Rockaway compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Far Rockaway, New York | 99.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Arverne, New York | 135 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Woodmere, New York | 87.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Springfield Gardens, New York | 177 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Rosedale, New York | 73.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Far Rockaway compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Far Rockaway | 99.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Far Rockaway's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Far Rockaway, New York, a neighborhood in the Rockaways peninsula in the southeastern Queens County borough of New York City — a historically significant beachfront community (Far Rockaway was a major 19th–early 20th century resort destination for New York City residents — known as the 'Newport of the Middle Class'), now a diverse and lower-income Queens coastal community with a significant African-American, Haitian-American, and Orthodox Jewish community, site of major Hurricane Sandy (2012) devastation and subsequent resilience and rebuilding efforts, and a Queens coastal community between the Atlantic Ocean and Jamaica Bay — draws its municipal water supply via the NYC DEP. Water hardness in Far Rockaway measures 99.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Far Rockaway's moderate softness reflects the NYC DEP Catskill–Delaware system supply with Far Rockaway coastal distribution characteristics. The Catskill–Delaware reservoir system (Devonian Catskill Formation calcareous-poor clastic upland — the calcareous-poor Catskill Mountains source watersheds) produces inherently soft NYC source water. Far Rockaway's Queens coastal distribution infrastructure (including the longer transmission path to the Rockaways peninsula and the Jamaica Bay crossing aqueducts) accumulates moderate hardness from the source, producing the moderate 99.5 mg/L.
With hardness at 99.5 mg/L, Far Rockaway residents enjoy moderately soft water. NYC DEP consistently delivers water meeting all New York State DEC and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Catskill–Delaware watershed system via the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) — the Queens County New York City southeast coastal Rockaways (NYC DEP Catskill–Delaware supply zone — calcareous-poor Catskill Mountains watershed; Queens coastal distribution infrastructure); moderately soft supply at 99.5 mg/L — reflecting NYC DEP distribution in the Far Rockaway Queens coastal zone.