Times Square Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.5 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
127.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.21
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 Times Square, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Times Square | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -18% |
| Washing Machine | 10.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -11% |
| Water Heater | 12.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -17% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Times Square compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Times Square, New York | 77.5 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Hell's Kitchen, New York | 141.5 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Gramercy Park, New York | 149 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| East Village, New York | 178 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| West Village, New York | 110 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Times Square compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Times Square | 77.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Times Square's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Times Square, New York, in New York County — the iconic midtown Manhattan neighborhood in New York County, in the heart of New York City — receives its municipal water from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), drawing from the Catskill-Delaware Aqueduct system (Catskill Mountains and Delaware County, 100+ miles north of the city).
The soft 77.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 127.6 mg/L reflect the legendary softness of the New York City Catskill-Delaware supply — among the softest major municipal supplies in the USA. The Catskill-Delaware system drains the Catskill Mountains — Devonian Catskill Formation (insoluble clastic sandstone and shale), Devonian Hamilton Group (siliceous shale — insoluble), and Devonian Onondaga Limestone (only minor carbonate, quickly diluted by the vast siliceous drainage). NYC's water is so soft and pure that it is one of only five major US cities with unfiltered water supply status from the EPA.
At 77.5 mg/L, Times Square's water is soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain excellent efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 3.8 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — despite the pristine Catskill watershed, background PFAS deposition, Stewart Air National Guard Base (Orange County — AFFF), and the Hudson Valley corridor contribute low-level PFAS to the New York City supply.
Geology & Source: Times Square in New York County draws from New York City DEP on the Catskill-Delaware Aqueduct (Catskill Mountains watershed, Westchester-Ulster-Delaware Counties) — the Catskill-Delaware system drains the Catskill Mountains (Devonian Catskill Formation sandstone-shale, insoluble) — New York Catskill-Delaware Devonian insoluble watershed produces soft water at 77.5 mg/L with TDS 127.6 mg/L in this New York County New York neighborhood.