Riverhead Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.9 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
436.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.45
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 Riverhead, your appliances are currently losing 23% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Riverhead | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -53% |
| Washing Machine | 7.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -39% |
| Water Heater | 8.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -41% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Riverhead compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Riverhead, New York | 169 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Hampton Bays, New York | 118.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Manorville, New York | 152 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Mastic, New York | 169.5 mg/L | 8.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Ridge, New York | 164.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Riverhead compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Riverhead | 169 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Riverhead's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Riverhead, New York, in Suffolk County — the Suffolk County seat adjacent to Southampton and Brookhaven in east Long Island — receives its water from the Suffolk County Water Authority, drawing from the Long Island Glacial Aquifer (Suffolk County) through the east Long Island distribution.
The hard 169 mg/L hardness and TDS of 436.6 mg/L place Riverhead among the harder Long Island communities — reflecting the east Suffolk County position over the deep and calcareous portion of the Pleistocene Ronkonkoma Moraine where the glacial till's calcareous character is most pronounced and the long aquifer residence time in the stratified drift contributes elevated TDS (compare Ridge NY: 164.5/417.8; Nesconset NY: 153.5/372.9). The Long Island Glacial Aquifer at east Suffolk County — Pleistocene Ronkonkoma Moraine (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Pleistocene stratified drift (slightly calcareous — TDS contributor), and Cretaceous Magothy Formation (insoluble — dilutant).
At 169 mg/L with TDS 437, Riverhead's water is hard. A water softener is recommended to prevent scale buildup in appliances. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 8.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Calverton Naval Weapons Station (Suffolk County — former AFFF site) is a major contributor to east Suffolk PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Riverhead in Suffolk County draws from the Suffolk County Water Authority on the Long Island Glacial Aquifer (Suffolk County, east Long Island, New York) — the aquifer at Riverhead is developed in Pleistocene Ronkonkoma Moraine (calcareous) and Cretaceous Magothy Formation (insoluble) — New York Suffolk County east Long Island Pleistocene glacial aquifer produces hard water at 169 mg/L with TDS 436.6 mg/L.