Lackawanna Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
444.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.45
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 Lackawanna, your appliances are currently losing 22% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Lackawanna | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -53% |
| Washing Machine | 7.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -38% |
| Water Heater | 8.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -41% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Lackawanna compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lackawanna, New York | 168.5 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| West Seneca, New York | 152 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Buffalo, New York | 160 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Cheektowaga, New York | 123 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Eggertsville, New York | 67.5 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Lackawanna compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lackawanna | 168.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Lackawanna's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Lackawanna, New York, in Erie County — an Erie County city adjacent to Buffalo and Hamburg on the Lake Erie shoreline in the south Buffalo metro, a former major steel-production city (site of the historic Bethlehem Steel plant) — receives its municipal water from the Erie County Water Authority (ECWA), drawing from Lake Erie at the ECWA intake in the western New York Lake Erie corridor.
The moderately hard 168.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 444.2 mg/L reflect the Lake Erie supply's Silurian Niagara Dolomite carbonate drainage — harder than the central Cleveland Lake Erie reading (Berea: 101 mg/L) but in the same range as other western New York Lake Erie communities. The Silurian Niagara Dolomite is exposed at Niagara Falls and underlies all of western New York-northwest Ohio, producing the characteristic moderately hard Lake Erie water.
At 168.5 mg/L, Lackawanna's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium deposits. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 8.3 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Bethlehem Steel legacy (Lackawanna — major industrial PFAS contamination site), Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (AFFF in the Niagara-Lake Erie watershed), and the Buffalo-Niagara industrial PFAS complex contribute to Lackawanna's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Lackawanna in Erie County draws from the Erie County Water Authority on Lake Erie (Erie County, western New York) — Lake Erie receives drainage from the Great Lakes basin (Silurian Niagara Dolomite, calcareous Pleistocene Erie Lobe till) — Lake Erie Great Lakes Silurian dolomite carbonate drainage produces moderately hard water at 168.5 mg/L with TDS 444.2 mg/L in this Erie County New York city.