How does Rego Park's water compare to the national average?

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

Rego Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

379.9 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 Rego Park, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Rego Park	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 Rego Park compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Rego Park, New York	≈ 0–59 mg/L	7.4 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Forest Hills, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Corona, New York	74.5 mg/L	3.7 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Kew Gardens, New York	≈ 0–60 mg/L	7.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Elmhurst, New York	80.5 mg/L	3.9 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Rego Park compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Rego Park	≈ 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 Rego Park's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 379.9 mg/LpH: 8.1

Rego Park, in Queens County, New York, receives its water from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which supplies over 8 million residents across the five boroughs and surrounding areas. The primary sources are the Catskill/Delaware watershed (approximately 90% of supply) and the Croton watershed (10%), delivered via a vast aqueduct system including the Delaware Aqueduct and Catskill Aqueduct. Water is treated at facilities including the Hillview Reservoir distribution point, with chlorination for disinfection and UV treatment applied at select points due to the naturally high quality of the source water.

The Catskill/Delaware watershed spans over 2,000 square miles of forested mountains, featuring reservoirs including Ashokan, Schoharie, Rondout, and Delaware, protected by 100,000 acres of parkland. Underlying geology includes Devonian-age shales, sandstones, and conglomerates in the Catskills, alongside Precambrian gneisses and schists. The Croton system covers 375 square miles with similar metamorphic and igneous rocks. This granitic, low-carbonate bedrock limits mineral pickup, yielding characteristically soft water with minimal dissolved solids through natural filtration through soil and forests.

Soft water produces little to no scale buildup in pipes, kettles, or fixtures, extending appliance life without frequent descaling; coffee makers and humidifiers require minimal maintenance. Soap lathers easily, reducing detergent use and being gentler on skin and hair. A water softener is not recommended and could unnecessarily strip beneficial minerals. NYC water typically has a pH of 7.0–8.0, fully compliant with EPA standards; lead and copper meet action levels through corrosion control and pipe replacement programs; PFAS monitoring shows non-detect or below advisory levels; treatment emphasizes chlorination (avg. 0.8 mg/L), UV, and fluoride addition.

Geology & Source: Catskill/Delaware and Croton watersheds; Devonian shales, sandstones, Precambrian gneisses and schists — granitic, low-carbonate bedrock limits mineral pickup; characteristically soft supply

Other New York Water Reports

Forest Hills

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Corona

74.5 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Kew Gardens

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Elmhurst

80.5 mg/L

🟡 Moderately 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 Rego Park's water safe to drink?

Yes. Rego Park'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 Rego Park?

Rego Park'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 Rego Park compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Rego Park (≈ 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 Rego Park 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.