Is New Jersey water hard or soft? There is no single answer for every New Jersey home. Hardness depends on the water source and treatment, so a result from one town or building should not be used to size equipment for another. For homeowners in Bergen and Morris counties, start with your own water report and a hardness test before choosing a water softener.
What should Bergen and Morris County homeowners check first?
If you live in Paramus, Morristown, Hawthorne or a nearby community, identify whether your property uses a public water supply or a private well. A town name alone does not establish your home’s hardness. Check the supplier shown on your water bill, and note whether an existing treatment system changes the water before it reaches the tap.
- Find your water report. Public-water customers can request their supplier’s annual water-quality report. The EPA explains how to obtain and read a Consumer Confidence Report. If hardness is not listed, ask the supplier for current hardness information.
- Test the water at the property. Record the sampling location and whether the sample was taken before or after any existing softener. Private-well owners should use water testing appropriate to their source and concerns.
- Bring the results to an equipment assessment. Include household size, bathrooms, peak demand, plumbing access, existing equipment and the problems you want to address.
How are hardness results described?
Hardness mainly reflects dissolved calcium and magnesium. The U.S. Geological Survey’s water-hardness guide classifies water as soft at 0–60 mg/L as calcium carbonate, moderately hard at 61–120 mg/L, hard at 121–180 mg/L, and very hard above 180 mg/L. These categories describe hardness; they do not establish the overall safety of drinking water.
Scale on fixtures, spotted glassware and soap residue can be reasons to investigate. They are clues rather than a substitute for testing. Our guide to hard water explains the basics in more detail.
Do I need a softener, a filter or reverse osmosis?
The equipment should match the measured issue. Softening addresses hardness; other water-quality concerns may require different treatment. Avoid purchasing a system solely because a neighbor has the same unit or an advertisement labels all NJ water as hard.
Prestige Water Group provides residential water treatment and water-softener installation services in Northern New Jersey. For drinking-water equipment, explore our reverse osmosis installation service. Apartment buildings and business properties can review our commercial water treatment and softener services.
What should I send when requesting service?
Send your town, water source, available test results, equipment make and model, and a short description of the symptoms. Tell us whether you need a new installation or assessment of an existing system. We review the property and equipment requirements before recommending the scope of work.
We serve Bergen, Morris, Essex and Passaic counties. Call 973-227-4740 or request water treatment service. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 AM–5 PM; after-hours emergency service is subject to availability.
