How does Little Neck's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 150 mg/L. Little Neck at 103.5 mg/L is 47 mg/L softer than average.

Little Neck Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

103.5mg/L

Moderately Hard

6 grains per gallon

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

198.5 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.28

energy & soap waste

Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026

103.5mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

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 Little Neck, your appliances are currently losing 14% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Little Neck	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-27%
Washing Machine	9.8 yrs	12 yrs	-18%
Water Heater	11.5 yrs	15 yrs	-23%

Regional Water Comparison

How Little Neck compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Little Neck, New York	103.5 mg/L	5 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Douglaston, New York	140.5 mg/L	6.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Queens Village, New York	138.5 mg/L	6.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Great Neck, New York	87 mg/L	4.2 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
North New Hyde Park, New York	69.5 mg/L	3.4 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Little Neck compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Little Neck	103.5 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	150 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Badger Top Rated	8.5 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Little Neck's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 198.5 mg/LpH: 7.7

Little Neck, New York, in Queens County — a Queens County neighborhood adjacent to Douglaston and Bayside at the northeast corner of Queens on Long Island Sound — 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 103.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 198.5 mg/L reflect the Queens County supply's moderate NYC watershed character — the Devonian Catskill Formation provides insoluble dilution while the Ordovician Hudson Valley Shale contributes slightly calcareous mineral content; New York City's supply blends Catskill/Delaware watershed water with Croton system water at the northeast Queens distribution zone (compare Douglaston NY: 100/191 in Queens County comparable; Bayside NY: 106/206 in Queens County comparable; Little Neck consistent moderate from the same Queens 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 New York City glaciolacustrine sediment (calcareous — TDS contributor).

At 103.5 mg/L with TDS 199, Little Neck's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the NYC DEP's annual water quality report.

Geology & Source: Little Neck in Queens County draws from the New York City DEP on the Catskill/Delaware watershed (Queens County, New York City) — the Catskill Mountains at Queens County draws from Devonian Catskill Formation (insoluble) and Ordovician Hudson Valley Shale (slightly calcareous) — New York Queens County Catskill watershed Devonian supply produces moderately hard water at 103.5 mg/L with TDS 198.5 mg/L.

Other New York Water Reports

Douglaston

140.5 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Queens Village

138.5 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Great Neck

87 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

North New Hyde Park

69.5 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Little Neck's water safe to drink?

Yes. Little Neck's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 103.5 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Little Neck?

Little Neck's water is moderately hard at 103.5 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Little Neck compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 150 mg/L. Little Neck at 103.5 mg/L is 47 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Badger at just 8.5 mg/L.