How does North Babylon's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. North Babylon (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

North Babylon Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.009 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

458 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · 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 North Babylon, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In North Babylon	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How North Babylon compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ North Babylon, New York	≈ 0–59 mg/L	8.3 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
West Islip, New York	≈ 0–60 mg/L	7.2 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Babylon, New York	145.5 mg/L	7 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
West Babylon, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Deer Park, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How North Babylon compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ North Babylon	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes North Babylon's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 458 mg/LpH: 8.2

The Town of Babylon Department of Public Works operates the water supply for North Babylon, New York, in Suffolk County on western Long Island. Water is sourced from groundwater wells tapping the Upper Glacial and Magothy aquifers, serving the hamlet of North Babylon within the 11703 ZIP code area. The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) provides broader regional service, though North Babylon falls under town jurisdiction for certain systems. No major treatment plant names are detailed in available reports.

The watershed encompasses Long Island's Central Pine Barrens, with recharge from precipitation percolating through sandy soils into unconfined glacial aquifers. Key formations include the Quaternary Jameco Gravel and Upper Glacial aquifer overlying the Cretaceous Raritan and Magothy Formations, featuring siliceous sands and sparse calcareous shells. This non-carbonate geology imparts a very soft character to the supply with low natural mineral load, though localized iron staining occurs from anoxic conditions in deeper sands.

Soft water minimizes scale buildup in pipes, heaters, and appliances, reducing maintenance needs for water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. A softener is not recommended and could over-treat already soft water, potentially increasing corrosion risk; sediment filters for sand or iron particulates common in glacial aquifers are the better choice. The 2023 Annual Water Quality Report confirms EPA compliance overall; some Oak Beach wells exceed the iron MCL (0.3 mg/L) and are under a Do Not Drink order pending new treatment and connection to the town system. Corrosion control upgrades are underway.

Geology & Source: Long Island glacial outwash — Quaternary Upper Glacial aquifer and Cretaceous Magothy Formation; quartz-rich sands with minimal carbonate produce naturally soft, low-mineral water

Other New York Water Reports

West Islip

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Babylon

145.5 mg/L

🟠 Hard

West Babylon

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Deer Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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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 North Babylon's water safe to drink?

Yes. North Babylon's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in North Babylon?

North Babylon's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does North Babylon compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. North Babylon (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 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 North Babylon 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.