Fulton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.9 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
369.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
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 Fulton, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fulton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -46% |
| Washing Machine | 8 yrs | 12 yrs | -33% |
| Water Heater | 9.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -37% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fulton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fulton, New York | 151.5 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Oswego, New York | 109 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Clay, New York | 147 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Fairmount, New York | 92.5 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Cicero, New York | 140 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Fulton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fulton | 151.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fulton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fulton, New York, in Oswego County — an Oswego County city adjacent to Oswego and Phoenix on the Oswego River in north-central New York — receives its water from the City of Fulton Water Department, drawing from Lake Ontario and the Oswego River through the north-central New York distribution.
The hard 151.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 369.7 mg/L reflect the Oswego County Lake Ontario supply's hard calcareous character — the Silurian Lockport Dolomite and Ordovician Trenton Limestone are highly calcareous formations throughout the Oswego River corridor and Lake Ontario basin of central New York (compare Oswego NY: 148/361 in Oswego County comparable; Phoenix NY: 154/377 in Oswego County comparable; Fulton consistent hard from the same Oswego County Lake Ontario Silurian-Ordovician dolomitic supply). The Lake Ontario basin at Oswego County — Silurian Lockport Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Trenton Limestone (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary glacial till (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 151.5 mg/L with TDS 370, Fulton's water is hard — scale builds in appliances and fixtures over months. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 7.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Oswego County central New York industrial and military (former Oswego Army Air Field) legacy contributes to Fulton's elevated PFAS readings. Review the City of Fulton's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Fulton in Oswego County draws from the City of Fulton Water on Lake Ontario (Oswego County, north-central New York) — the Lake Ontario basin at Oswego County is underlain by Silurian Lockport Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Ordovician Trenton Limestone (calcareous) — New York Oswego County Lake Ontario Silurian-Ordovician dolomitic supply produces hard water at 151.5 mg/L with TDS 369.7 mg/L.