Ozone Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) supplies water to Ozone Park in Queens County, serving over 8 million residents across the five boroughs. Primary sources are the Catskill/Delaware systems, contributing roughly 90% of supply from 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes upstate, and the Croton system providing the remainder. Water is treated at major facilities including the Catskill/Delaware Ultraviolet Treatment Plant, where UV disinfection and chlorination are applied before distribution via extensive aqueducts to Queens.

The Catskill/Delaware watersheds span approximately 2,000 square miles of the Catskill Mountains and Delaware River basin, underlain by Devonian-age shales, sandstones, and conglomerates overlain by glacial till. The Croton watershed covers 375 square miles in Westchester and Putnam Counties, featuring Precambrian metamorphic gneisses and granites of the Reading Prong. No major aquifers are tapped; surface water dominates. This protected, low-carbonate geology limits mineral leaching, yielding a naturally soft to moderately mineralized supply with low dissolved solids characteristic of upland forested systems.

As soft to moderately hard water, Ozone Park's supply causes minimal scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers, reducing maintenance needs and extending appliance life compared to harder supplies. Soap lathers efficiently, benefiting laundry and personal care. No water softener is typically required. Optional filtration can address chlorine taste or odor. Disinfection byproducts including TTHMs and haloacetic acids, as well as chromium-6 and low PFAS, have been detected below legal limits; older homes should consider point-of-use filters for added lead protection. DEP publishes annual Consumer Confidence Reports detailing full compliance with EPA standards.