Windsor Locks Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The Metropolitan District Commission supplies drinking water to Windsor Locks, Connecticut, serving approximately 98,690 people in the Northern Reg-Western System through surface water sources. Water originates from the 30-billion-gallon Barkhamsted Reservoir, impounded by the Saville Dam on the East Branch of the Farmington River 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. Both reservoirs are located roughly 20 miles northwest of Hartford in protected watersheds. The MDC treats this water at facilities ensuring compliance with EPA standards before distribution to Windsor Locks and surrounding areas in Hartford County. The Farmington River watershed, spanning Connecticut's northwest hills, drains into these reservoirs.

The underlying geology features metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Hartford Basin and surrounding highlands, including schists, gneisses, and granitic formations from the Paleozoic era, particularly Ordovician and Devonian periods. This bedrock, rich in calcium and magnesium-bearing minerals like limestone outcrops and dolomitic layers interspersed with the metamorphics, contributes to a hard water character as surface water picks up dissolved minerals during flow through soils and fractured rock aquifers in the hilly terrain. No major aquifer is involved as this is surface water, but the hilly terrain's fractured bedrock and glacial till soils influence infiltration. This geological setting imparts a hard character to the water supply due to natural dissolution of calcium- and magnesium-rich minerals, resulting in moderately mineralised water typical of New England reservoirs.

Scale buildup in appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers is a common consequence of this supply, reducing efficiency and lifespan. You might also notice soap scum, spotting on dishes and fixtures, and experience drier skin or hair after bathing. Boilers and pipes may require more frequent descaling. Maintenance tips include regular vinegar flushes for appliances, installing scale-inhibiting filters, and using more detergent or soap. A water softener is recommended for households to prevent these issues and extend equipment life. MDC water meets EPA legal standards, with 2023 testing showing no detectable PFAS among 29 compounds or lithium in four rounds of sampling, thanks to protected reservoirs without known contamination sources. Two contaminants exceed EPA health-based guidelines in the served area per tapwaterdata.com, though specifics are not detailed here.