Poughkeepsie Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The Poughkeepsie Water Treatment Facility, operated by the City of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, New York, supplies drinking water to the city and surrounding areas from the Hudson River. Raw water is drawn directly from this major river system and treated at the local plant situated near the riverbank, with the mailing address at 62 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. The service area covers Poughkeepsie City; inquiries can be directed to the Water Plant Administrator at 845-451-4173 x 2003 or Community Health at 486-3404.

The Hudson River Watershed shapes the water's chemistry through its expansive ~12,500-square-mile drainage basin, originating at Lake Tear of the Clouds on the southwest shoulder of Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks. Surface runoff interacts with underlying Paleozoic bedrock — Devonian shales and limestones alongside Ordovician formations — as well as metamorphic bedrock in the highlands. These geological features release calcium and magnesium ions into river flow, imparting a moderately mineralised character at 67.2 mg/L (moderately soft) without extreme mineral loads.

At moderately hard levels, Poughkeepsie's water causes gradual scale accumulation in water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, with kettles and hot water systems particularly prone to white mineral deposits over time. Periodic vinegar descaling or magnetic water treatment is recommended; a water softener is advisable for households noticing soap scum, dry skin, or spotting on glassware. Treatment at the facility includes sodium hydroxide to adjust pH to 7.7 for corrosion control, phosphoric acid at 2.3 mg/L to protect lead plumbing, and disinfection processes that produce detectable trihalomethanes. Recent testing noted PFOA at 1.475 ng/L and PFOS at 1.25 ng/L, alongside sodium at 24.7 mg/L; no atrazine detections above 0.1 µg/L were recorded. All results meet EPA standards, and annual testing from the Hudson River source ensures ongoing safety.