Forest Hills Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.5 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
281.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.34
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 Forest Hills, your appliances are currently losing 17% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Forest Hills | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -38% |
| Washing Machine | 8.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -27% |
| Water Heater | 10.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -31% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Forest Hills compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forest Hills, New York | 129 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Rego Park, New York | 155 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Kew Gardens, New York | 156 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Richmond Hill, New York | 163 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Woodhaven, New York | 85 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Forest Hills compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forest Hills | 129 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Forest Hills's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Forest Hills, New York — an affluent residential neighborhood in central Queens featuring the landmark West Side Tennis Club (site of the US Open through 1978) and the Forest Hills Gardens planned community — receives its municipal water supply from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Catskill–Delaware and Croton Aqueduct systems, distributed through the Queens borough water distribution network. Forest Hills is in the central Queens distribution zone. Water hardness in Forest Hills measures 129 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Forest Hills's moderate hardness — between Manhattan (107.5 mg/L) and the harder eastern Queens zones — reflects the central Queens distribution zone's characteristics. The Forest Hills area is served through the central Queens distribution network, with distribution infrastructure of moderate vintage (the Forest Hills planned community developed primarily in the 1910s–1930s). The central Queens pipe network is generally less aged than the densest urban Brooklyn or eastern Queens industrial zones, producing the 129 mg/L moderately elevated reading above the soft Catskill–Delaware source. Forest Hills–Kew Gardens central Queens has a somewhat lower hardness than Ridgewood (164.5 mg/L) to its north, reflecting cleaner, less aged infrastructure in the Forest Hills residential planned development area.
At 129 mg/L, Forest Hills residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. NYC DEP consistently delivers water meeting all New York State DOH and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the New York City DEP Catskill–Delaware Aqueduct via the NYC DEP Queens borough distribution — the central Queens Forest Hills–Kew Gardens distribution zone; moderately hard supply at 129 mg/L — harder than Manhattan (107.5 mg/L) but softer than some eastern Queens zones — reflecting the central Queens distribution infrastructure.