Merrick Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
115.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.19
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 Merrick, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Merrick | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -15% |
| Washing Machine | 10.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -9% |
| Water Heater | 12.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -15% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Merrick compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Merrick, New York | 72.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Bellmore, New York | 78.5 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Freeport, New York | 146 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| North Bellmore, New York | 174 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Roosevelt, New York | 70 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Merrick compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Merrick | 72.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Merrick's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Merrick, New York, in Nassau County on Long Island's South Shore — a well-established Nassau County community on the South Shore between Freeport and Bellmore, known for its boat-friendly canals, Merrick Road commercial corridor, and proximity to Jones Beach State Park — receives its municipal water from the Nassau County Water Authority (NCWA), which draws from the Long Island Glacial Aquifer System through production wells in the Merrick area. NCWA manages a dense wellfield across Nassau County's South Shore communities.
The soft 72.5 mg/L hardness and low TDS of 115.3 mg/L are notably softer than other Nassau County communities (Garden City 158 mg/L from the same NCWA system), reflecting the shallower, less-mineralized aquifer zones accessed by South Shore production wells in the Merrick area. The Long Island Glacial Aquifer System has significant aquifer variability: the shallow Pleistocene Upper Glacial Aquifer (unconsolidated sand and gravel) produces naturally softer water with lower dissolved mineral content, while the deeper Magothy Aquifer and its more calcareous zones produce harder, more mineralized water. Merrick's NCWA production wells access primarily the shallower Upper Glacial zone in the South Shore coastal plain, capturing softer, fresher Pleistocene glaciofluvial water compared to communities drawing from deeper, more mineralized Nassau County aquifer horizons.
At 72.5 mg/L, Merrick's water is soft — among the softest in Nassau County. Scale forms slowly over many months in kettles and appliances, soap lathers well, and the dishwasher produces clean results. Semi-annual descaling of heating appliances is adequate. The PFAS level of 3.6 ppt is favorable for Nassau County — the South Shore Merrick area benefits from a shallower aquifer horizon somewhat protected from deeper industrial PFAS plumes, though Nassau County's dense suburban development, former industrial sites, and the broader Long Island PFAS legacy still contribute to the background.
Geology & Source: Merrick in Nassau County is served by the Nassau County Water Authority (NCWA) drawing from the Pleistocene Upper Glacial Aquifer — the shallow Upper Glacial zone along Nassau County's South Shore accesses less-mineralized Pleistocene sand and gravel deposits above the more calcareous Magothy horizon — shallower, less-mineralized South Shore glacial aquifer zones produce soft water at 72.5 mg/L with low TDS 115 mg/L in this Nassau County South Shore community.