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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Milford (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Milford Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

5.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

127 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Milford, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Milford	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Milford compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Milford, Delaware	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Dover, Delaware	≈ 120–179 mg/L	57.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Smyrna, Delaware	≈ 120–179 mg/L	95.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Bridgeton, New Jersey	123 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Salisbury, Maryland	121.5 mg/L	68.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Milford compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Milford	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Milford's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 127 mg/LpH: 5.7

The City of Milford Water Department draws its supply from local groundwater sources within the Coastal Plain aquifer system, serving residents and businesses in Milford, Delaware. While specific treatment plant names aren't detailed here, the utility operates municipal facilities and distribution networks to deliver water.

The Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system, underlying Milford, is composed of unconsolidated sediments from the Cretaceous and Quaternary periods. These layers include sand, silt, and clay, but importantly, also contain strata rich in carbonate minerals. It's the dissolution of these minerals within the Coastal Plain formations that imparts a hard character to the groundwater.

Homeowners often notice the effects of this hardness as white, crusty scale on fixtures and appliances like water heaters and dishwashers. This mineral buildup can also reduce the effectiveness of soaps and detergents, leading to higher consumption of cleaning products. To combat these issues, the city suggests that residents might consider installing water softeners. Despite the hardness, Milford's water consistently meets EPA and state drinking water standards for contaminants such as lead, copper, nitrate, arsenic, and disinfection byproducts.

Geology & Source: Coastal Plain sediments; calcium and magnesium-rich minerals from carbonate strata cause hardness

Other Delaware Water Reports

Dover

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Smyrna

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Bridgeton

123 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Salisbury

121.5 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

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 Milford's water safe to drink?

Yes. Milford's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Milford?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Milford's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Milford compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Milford (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 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 Milford 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.