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

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

Latham Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

271 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 Latham, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Latham	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 Latham compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Latham, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Watervliet, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Cohoes, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
West Albany, New York	≈ 0–60 mg/L	6.7 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Troy, New York	60.7 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Latham compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Latham	≈ 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 Latham's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 271 mg/LpH: 7.9

Latham Water District, serving Latham in the Town of Colonie, Albany County, New York, provides drinking water to residential and commercial customers via sources blending surface water from the Mohawk River and five wells on Onderdonk Avenue. An emergency supply is available from Stony Creek Reservoir. The district employs conventional treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection with chlorine and chlorine dioxide at its treatment facility located at 347 Old Niskayuna Road.

The primary watershed is the Mohawk River basin within New York's Appalachian geologic province, draining Paleozoic-age sedimentary rocks such as Ordovician shales, Silurian sandstones, and Devonian carbonates. Wells access shallow glacial aquifers overlying Cambrian-Ordovician bedrock formations including the Potsdam and Galway formations. These carbonate-rich lithologies dissolve minerals into the water, imparting a moderately mineralized character typical of mixed surface-groundwater systems in this region.

At moderately hard levels, scale buildup occurs in appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Faucet aerators and showerheads may clog, leading to lower flow rates. Regular maintenance includes quarterly descaling with vinegar solutions and installing drain screens. A water softener is recommended for households to prevent spotting on dishes and fixtures and improve soap efficiency. Water quality reports from 2019–2024 confirm compliance with state and federal standards; 2–6 contaminants exceed EPA health guidelines including potential PFAS, so certified filters are recommended.

Geology & Source: Mohawk River watershed — Ordovician shales, Silurian sandstones, Devonian limestones/dolomites; Onderdonk Avenue wells tap glacial drift over Cambrian-Ordovician Potsdam and Galway formations; carbonate-rich geology produces moderately hard supply

Other New York Water Reports

Watervliet

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Cohoes

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

West Albany

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Troy

60.7 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Latham's water safe to drink?

Yes. Latham'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 Latham?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Latham'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 Latham compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Latham (≈ 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 Latham 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.