How does Kew Gardens's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Kew Gardens (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Kew Gardens Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

384.1 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · est.

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 Kew Gardens, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Kew Gardens	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Kew Gardens compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Kew Gardens, New York	≈ 0–59 mg/L	7.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Richmond Hill, New York	≈ 0–60 mg/L	7.8 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Briarwood, New York	≈ 0–60 mg/L	6.4 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Kew Gardens Hills, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Forest Hills, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Kew Gardens compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Kew Gardens	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Kew Gardens home

Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →

Shop Now

What Makes Kew Gardens's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 384.1 mg/LpH: 8.1

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provides water to Kew Gardens in Queens County, serving over 8 million residents across the five boroughs and parts of Westchester County. The supply draws from 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes via the Catskill system (including Ashokan, Schoharie, and Pepacton Reservoirs), the Delaware system (including Rondout and Neversink), and the Croton system. Water is treated at major facilities including the Catskill/Delaware Ultraviolet Disinfection Facility in Ulster County and the Hillview Water Treatment Plant in Yonkers before distribution via the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton aqueducts.

The primary Catskill/Delaware Watershed spans over 1,600 square miles in the Catskills and Delaware River basin, with the Croton Watershed covering 380 square miles in Putnam and Westchester Counties. Paleozoic shales, sandstones, and metamorphic rocks prevail, with sparse carbonate layers insufficient for high mineralization. This geology imparts a soft character to the water, as runoff from forested uplands picks up few dissolved minerals, resulting in naturally low levels of calcium and magnesium compared to limestone-influenced basins elsewhere.

As a soft to moderately hard supply, Kew Gardens water causes minimal scale buildup, sparing water heaters, dishwashers, and pipes from significant mineral deposits. Soap and detergents perform efficiently without excess usage, and skin feels less dry. Routine maintenance like occasional descaling of fixtures suffices; a water softener is not recommended and could unnecessarily strip beneficial minerals. NYC DEP water typically has a pH of 7.0–7.8. The system complies with the Lead and Copper Rule, PFAS levels are below EPA advisory limits, and occasional turbidity is addressed via UV disinfection (since 2013), chlorination, and filtration at select plants.

Geology & Source: Catskill/Delaware and Croton watersheds — Paleozoic Silurian–Devonian shales, sandstones, and schists; sparse carbonate layers; glacial till — low mineralization yields naturally soft water

Other New York Water Reports

Richmond Hill

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Briarwood

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Kew Gardens Hills

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Forest Hills

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kew Gardens's water safe to drink?

Yes. Kew Gardens's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Kew Gardens?

Kew Gardens's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Kew Gardens compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Kew Gardens (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Kew Gardens is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.