Manchester Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
74.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.11
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 Manchester, your appliances are currently losing 5% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Manchester | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -2% |
| Washing Machine | 12.1 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14 yrs | 15 yrs | -7% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Manchester compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Manchester, Connecticut | 40.5 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| East Hartford, Connecticut | 54 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Glastonbury, Connecticut | 20 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| South Windsor, Connecticut | 41 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Ellington, Connecticut | 71 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Manchester compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Manchester | 40.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Manchester's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Manchester, Connecticut, in Hartford County — a major north Connecticut Hartford suburban community (Manchester is a significant Hartford County town — one of the most historically important mill and manufacturing towns in Connecticut; Manchester was the site of the Cheney Brothers Silk Mills — one of the most important silk manufacturing complexes in North America (the Cheney Brothers developed one of the first fully vertically integrated silk production operations in the United States in Manchester); the Cheney Brothers Historic District is a National Historic Landmark), a diverse Hartford County community with a significant West Indian-American, Puerto Rican-American, and working-class manufacturing heritage population, home of Manchester Community College (a significant two-year community college in north Connecticut), adjacent to Glastonbury and East Hartford, and a community with a strong civic and retail presence along Tolland Turnpike — draws its municipal water supply via the Manchester Water Department. Water hardness in Manchester measures 40.5 mg/L — classified as very soft.
Manchester's very soft supply reflects the Hartford County Hartford Basin watershed's calcareous-poor geology. The Manchester reservoir system drains the Triassic Hartford Basin arkose (calcareous-poor) and Precambrian Connecticut gneiss (calcareous-poor crystalline). Manchester Water Department produces the very soft 40.5 mg/L.
With hardness at 40.5 mg/L, Manchester residents enjoy very soft water. Manchester Water Department consistently delivers water meeting all Connecticut DEEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Manchester Water Department (Reservoir No. 5 system) via the Manchester Water Department — the Hartford County north Connecticut Hartford corridor (Triassic calcareous-poor Hartford Basin arkose and Precambrian calcareous-poor Connecticut gneiss — the extremely calcareous-poor north Connecticut Hartford Basin crystalline watershed; excellent treatment); very soft supply at 40.5 mg/L in Hartford County.