Biddeford Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
155.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.17
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 Biddeford, your appliances are currently losing 9% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Biddeford | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -12% |
| Washing Machine | 11.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -7% |
| Water Heater | 13 yrs | 15 yrs | -13% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Biddeford compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Biddeford, Maine | 64 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Saco, Maine | 20.5 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| West Scarborough, Maine | 29.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| South Portland Gardens, Maine | 77 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Westbrook, Maine | 30.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Biddeford compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Biddeford | 64 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Biddeford's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Biddeford, Maine, in York County — the largest city in York County on the Saco River opposite Saco, a historic New England mill city with deep French-Canadian working-class heritage, undergoing an active urban renewal with a growing arts, restaurant, and residential revitalization — receives its municipal water from the Biddeford-Saco Water Company (BSWC), which draws from the Saco River at the Biddeford-Saco reach or from Little Ossipee Lake and other reservoir impoundments in the York County watershed. The Saco River system is the primary water supply for this southern Maine coastal corridor.
The moderately soft 64 mg/L hardness and TDS of 155.7 mg/L reflect the Saco River watershed's New England crystalline geological character. The Saco River originates in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Maine — draining the Crawford Notch and North Conway area through terrain underlain by the Silurian-Devonian Littleton Formation (mica schist and phyllite), Ordovician metasedimentary rocks, and the Cretaceous White Mountain Magma Series (Conway Granite and related intrusive granites). These crystalline rocks have minimal carbonate content, producing characteristically soft New England river water. The moderate hardness (64 mg/L) is somewhat higher than the purest White Mountain granite supplies, reflecting the Saco River's longer traverse through mixed metamorphic terrain.
At 64 mg/L, Biddeford's water is moderately soft — comfortable for household use. Scale forms slowly over many months, soap lathers well, and appliances operate efficiently. Semi-annual descaling of heating appliances is adequate. The PFAS level of 4.6 ppt is moderate for southern Maine — the Saco River watershed's limited direct military PFAS sources and the predominantly rural-residential York County character produce a modest background, though the Saco-Biddeford industrial mill legacy (textile and paper mill effluent history) and proximity to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PFAS sources upstream in the greater New Hampshire-Maine coastal zone) contribute to the reading.
Geology & Source: Biddeford in York County draws from Biddeford-Saco Water Company on the Saco River or Biddeford Pool reservoirs — the Saco River drains the White Mountains (Devonian-Silurian metasedimentary terrain and Cretaceous White Mountain Magma Series granite) — White Mountain metamorphic and granitic watershed drainage produces moderately soft water at 64 mg/L with TDS 156 mg/L in this York County Maine city.