Inwood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
213.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.29
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 Inwood, your appliances are currently losing 14% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Inwood | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -29% |
| Washing Machine | 9.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -20% |
| Water Heater | 11.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -25% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Inwood compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Inwood, New York | 108.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Morris Heights, New York | 112.5 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Washington Heights, New York | 125.5 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Spuyten Duyvil, New York | 64 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| University Heights, New York | 65.5 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Inwood compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Inwood | 108.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Inwood home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Inwood's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Inwood, New York, in New York County — a northern Manhattan neighborhood adjacent to Washington Heights and Marble Hill at the northern tip of Manhattan island — receives its water from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), drawing from the Catskill and Delaware watersheds through the New York City distribution.
The moderately hard 108.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 213.5 mg/L reflect the New York County supply's moderate upper Manhattan character — the Devonian Catskill Formation provides insoluble dilution while the Ordovician Hudson Valley Shale contributes slightly calcareous mineral content; New York City's Catskill/Delaware supply blends with local Croton watershed water, and the Manhattan distribution adds some mineral content as the water travels through the aging infrastructure (compare Washington Heights NY: 105/206 in New York County comparable; Marble Hill NY: 111/221 in New York County comparable; Inwood consistent moderate from the same New York County Catskill watershed Devonian supply). The Catskill/Delaware watershed — Devonian Catskill Formation (insoluble — primary dilutant), Ordovician Hudson Valley Shale (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Hudson River Valley glaciolacustrine sediment (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 108.5 mg/L with TDS 214, Inwood's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.3 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the NYC DEP's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Inwood in New York County draws from the New York City DEP on the Catskill/Delaware watershed (New York County, New York City) — the Catskill Mountains at New York County draws from Devonian Catskill Formation (insoluble) and Ordovician Hudson Valley Shale (slightly calcareous) — New York New York County Catskill watershed Devonian supply produces moderately hard water at 108.5 mg/L with TDS 213.5 mg/L.