How does Troy's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Troy (60.7 mg/L) is 90 mg/L softer than average.

Troy Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

60.7mg/L

Moderately Hard

3.5 grains per gallon

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.8

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

153 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.16

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

60.7mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

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 Troy, your appliances are currently losing 8% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Troy	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.6 yrs	8.5 yrs	-11%
Washing Machine	11.4 yrs	12 yrs	-5%
Water Heater	13.2 yrs	15 yrs	-12%

Regional Water Comparison

How Troy compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Troy, New York	60.7 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Watervliet, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Cohoes, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Latham, New York	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
West Albany, New York	≈ 0–60 mg/L	6.7 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Troy compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Troy	60.7 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Troy's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 153 mg/LpH: 7.8

Troy City Public Water System (PWS) draws its entire supply from the Tomhannock Reservoir, a man-made impoundment located 6.5 miles northeast of the city. The reservoir is 5.5 miles long with a capacity of 12.3 billion gallons at full pool and provides water of good to excellent quality. Water flows by gravity to the Melrose Chlorination Station, where treatment includes seasonal potassium permanganate addition at the intake and year-round pre-disinfection with chlorine dioxide.

The Tomhannock Reservoir watershed is situated within the Hudson Valley physiographic province, underlain by Ordovician and Devonian sedimentary bedrock including limestone, shale, and other carbonate-bearing formations typical of the Appalachian Basin. These geological formations naturally contribute dissolved minerals — primarily calcium and magnesium carbonates — to the water supply, resulting in a moderately soft water character. The regional geology is directly responsible for the mineral content observed in Troy's drinking water.

At moderately soft levels, scale buildup in water heaters, kettles, and plumbing fixtures is moderate and manageable. Soap and detergent efficiency is only somewhat reduced. Many households may benefit from a water softener for whole-house protection, and regular descaling of kettles and faucet aerators is recommended. Troy's 2022 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report rates source water quality as good to excellent. Historical sampling has found elevated lead levels (up to 171 ppb in certain homes), exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb — point-of-use reverse osmosis systems are recommended for affected residences. Potassium permanganate is applied seasonally to manage iron and manganese.

Geology & Source: Tomhannock Reservoir watershed; Hudson Valley Ordovician and Devonian limestone, shale, and carbonate-bearing Appalachian Basin formations — calcium and magnesium carbonates dissolve into reservoir, producing moderately soft supply

Other New York Water Reports

Watervliet

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Cohoes

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Latham

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

West Albany

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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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 Troy's water safe to drink?

Yes. Troy's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 60.7 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Troy?

Troy's water is moderately hard at 60.7 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Troy compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Troy (60.7 mg/L) is 90 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 Troy 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.