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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Saco (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Saco Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

35 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · 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 Saco, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Saco	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Saco compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Saco, Maine	≈ 0–59 mg/L	2.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Biddeford, Maine	≈ 0–60 mg/L	4.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
West Scarborough, Maine	≈ 0–60 mg/L	3 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
South Portland Gardens, Maine	≈ 0–60 mg/L	5.2 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Westbrook, Maine	≈ 0–60 mg/L	3 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Saco compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Saco	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Saco home

Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →

Shop Now

What Makes Saco's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 35 mg/LpH: 7.2

Maine Water Company operates the Biddeford-Saco Division, serving the city of Saco in York County, Maine, alongside adjacent Biddeford. The primary water source is surface water from the Saco River watershed, with treatment handled at facilities detailed in annual quality reports published by the utility. A 2015 source water assessment rated contamination risk as low. Service covers residential, commercial, and municipal users, with annual reports — including the 2023 Biddeford-Saco report and 2022 summaries — published at mainewater.com.

The Saco River watershed drains a large portion of southern Maine, feeding into Sebago Lake, a key oligotrophic reservoir. Underlying geology consists of Precambrian to Paleozoic metamorphic rocks — schist, gneiss, and quartzite — part of the New England Upland province. Absent significant carbonate aquifers or limestone, these formations have low calcium and magnesium content. Glacial deposits and coniferous forest cover enhance this low buffering capacity, producing very soft water with minimal dissolved minerals and sensitivity to acidification.

With very soft water, scale buildup is negligible, sparing hot water heaters, pipes, and fixtures from mineral deposits. Soap lathers easily, reducing product usage, and laundry feels cleaner without residue. No water softener is necessary or recommended, avoiding sodium addition or equipment costs. Routine flushing of aerators prevents minor sediment issues. Maine Water's CCRs confirm compliance with lead and copper rules via corrosion control; tapwaterdata.com notes 3 contaminants above EPA health guidelines (not legal limits), with filters advised for PFAS-sensitive households.

Geology & Source: Saco River watershed draining Devonian and Silurian schists and gneisses of the Appalachian geosyncline — granitic and metamorphic bedrock with low calcium content; glacial till limits mineral leaching, producing very soft water

Other Maine Water Reports

Biddeford

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

West Scarborough

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

South Portland Gardens

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Westbrook

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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 Saco's water safe to drink?

Yes. Saco's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Saco?

Saco's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Saco compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Saco (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 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 Saco 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.