Poughkeepsie Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
154.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.23
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 Poughkeepsie, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Poughkeepsie | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -21% |
| Washing Machine | 10.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -14% |
| Water Heater | 12.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -19% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Poughkeepsie compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Poughkeepsie, New York | 88 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Beacon, New York | 172 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Newburgh, New York | 162.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Kingston, New York | 162 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Jefferson Valley-Yorktown, New York | 109 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Poughkeepsie compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Poughkeepsie | 88 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Poughkeepsie's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Poughkeepsie, New York, the Dutchess County seat — a major Hudson Valley university city (Poughkeepsie is the Dutchess County seat and one of the most significant Hudson Valley cities — home of Vassar College (one of the most distinguished liberal arts colleges in the United States, a former women's college of the Seven Sisters that became coeducational in 1969 — Vassar is renowned for its excellence in art, literature, and sciences) and Marist College (a significant private liberal arts university known for communications, business, and education)), home of the Walkway Over the Hudson (the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge — the former Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge converted to a linear state historic park spanning the Hudson River), a diverse Dutchess County community with a significant African-American, Puerto Rican-American, and working-class manufacturing heritage population, and one of the most significant mid-Hudson Valley cities — draws its municipal water supply from the Hudson River via the City of Poughkeepsie Water Division. Water hardness in Poughkeepsie measures 88 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Poughkeepsie's moderate softness reflects the Hudson Valley calcareous-poor geology with effective treatment. The Hudson River at Poughkeepsie–Dutchess County draws from the Ordovician Hudson Valley shale and phyllite (calcareous-poor Taconic sedimentary). City of Poughkeepsie effective treatment produces the moderately soft 88 mg/L.
With hardness at 88 mg/L, Poughkeepsie residents enjoy moderately soft water. City of Poughkeepsie Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all New York State DEC and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Hudson River via the City of Poughkeepsie Water Division — the Dutchess County Hudson Valley New York Poughkeepsie corridor (Ordovician calcareous-poor Hudson Valley shale and phyllite — the calcareous-poor Hudson Valley Taconic–Hudson Highlands watershed; effective treatment producing soft supply); moderately soft supply at 88 mg/L in Dutchess County.