How does Kingston's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Kingston (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Kingston Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

4.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

219 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Kingston, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Kingston	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Kingston compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Kingston, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Poughkeepsie, New York	67.2 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Wawarsing, New York	131.5 mg/L	6.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Beacon, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Newburgh, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Kingston compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Kingston	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Kingston's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 219 mg/LpH: 4.5

The Kingston Water Department serves Kingston, New York (population approximately 32,572) in Ulster County. Water originates from the Mink Hollow stream (principal source) and Catskill stream, piped into Cooper Lake Reservoir, then conveyed by gravity through transmission mains to the Edmund T. Cloonan Water Treatment Plant at 111 Jansen Ave. The system has a nominal treatment capacity of 8 million gallons per day (MGD), employing chlorine disinfection, direct filtration with alum coagulation, corrosion control via lime addition, and ultraviolet disinfection.

The Catskill watershed is underlain by Devonian-age shales and sandstones of the Catskill Formation, which contribute dissolved minerals to the water supply. The New York State Department of Health has assessed Cooper Lake as having low contaminant prevalence ratings and no discrete potential contaminant sources. This geological setting imparts a moderately mineralised character to the supply, typical of Appalachian surface waters in this formation, with moderate levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium.

At moderately hard levels, Kingston's water may cause some scale buildup in kettles and reduced soap effectiveness, though treatment is not essential for most households. Appliances such as water heaters and dishwashers may accumulate mineral deposits over time. Residents with high-use applications or aesthetic concerns may consider point-of-use softening. According to the 2024 Annual Water Supply Statement, the system tested for over 80 contaminants and reported no violations of maximum contaminant levels or other water quality standards.

Geology & Source: Mink Hollow stream and Catskill stream feed Cooper Lake Reservoir; Catskill region underlain by Devonian-age shales and sandstones of the Catskill Formation — moderate mineral content yields a moderately mineralised supply

Other New York Water Reports

Poughkeepsie

67.2 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Wawarsing

131.5 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Beacon

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Newburgh

≈ 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 Kingston's water safe to drink?

Yes. Kingston's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Kingston?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Kingston's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Kingston compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Kingston (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 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 Kingston 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.