East Hartford Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

East Hartford, Connecticut is served by the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), a regional water utility supplying drinking water to 12 towns in the Hartford area. The MDC's supply originates entirely from surface water across approximately 89.7 square miles of watershed. Primary sources are the East Branch of the Farmington River and the Nepaug River, stored in two major reservoirs: the 30-billion-gallon Barkhamsted Reservoir, impounded by the Saville Dam about one mile east of New Hartford, and the 9-billion-gallon Nepaug Reservoir, created by the Phelps Brook and Nepaug Dams about one mile northwest of Collinsville. Treatment occurs at the Reservoir 6 water treatment plant in Bloomfield.

The MDC watershed encompasses the East Branch of the Farmington River and Nepaug River drainage basins in Connecticut's northwest uplands. These relatively remote, less-developed watershed locations help reduce pollution risk. The geology consists primarily of granitic and metamorphic bedrock characteristic of Connecticut's upland terrain, which contributes minimal dissolved minerals and produces the soft water character of the supply. The state-licensed Water Analysis Laboratory at Reservoir 6 conducts more than 140,000 physical, chemical, and bacteriological tests annually, screening for over 130 potential contaminants at reservoirs, treatment plants, and 47 approved sampling sites.

East Hartford residents receive soft water, presenting minimal scaling issues in household appliances and plumbing. Soft water requires less detergent for cleaning and reduces soap scum buildup on fixtures and in bathtubs. However, soft water may have corrosive tendencies and can leach metals such as lead and copper from older plumbing if pH is not properly controlled; those with very old service lines may benefit from point-of-use treatment. Most residents do not require a water softener. The MDC's water meets all State of Connecticut Public Health Code and Federal EPA standards, with no PFAS detected in any reservoir samples and lead and copper compliance maintained through corrosion control at the treatment plant.