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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Acushnet (≈ 60–119 mg/L) is 61 mg/L softer than average.

Acushnet Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

moderately hard

~60–119 mg/L

Moderately Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.4

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

113.1 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.24

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

moderately hard~60–119 mg/LModerately Hard · 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 Acushnet, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Acushnet	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.5 yrs	8.5 yrs	-12%
Washing Machine	10.6 yrs	12 yrs	-12%
Water Heater	13.2 yrs	15 yrs	-12%

Regional Water Comparison

How Acushnet compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Acushnet, Massachusetts	≈ 60–119 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Fairhaven, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
New Bedford, Massachusetts	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Head of Westport, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	7.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Middleborough, Massachusetts	≈ 120–179 mg/L	197 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Acushnet compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Acushnet	≈ 60–119 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Acushnet's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 113.1 mg/LpH: 7.4

The Acushnet Water Department supplies the town of Acushnet, Massachusetts, drawing from groundwater sources within Bristol County. The utility, which has a mailing address at 5 Arsene Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719, received a B grade (Good) in its 2026 water quality report. While generally acceptable, the report noted one contaminant exceeding EPA health guidelines and two MCL violations. The system's water originates from aquifers in the Narragansett Basin region.

The groundwater originates from aquifers within the Narragansett Basin, a region characterized by Quaternary glacial deposits overlaying Precambrian metamorphic bedrock, specifically schist and gneiss. This type of crystalline bedrock, common to the New England shield, contains limited carbonate minerals. Consequently, the geology naturally produces water that is soft to moderately soft, unlike supplies drawn from regions with abundant limestone or chalk.

Because Acushnet's water is naturally soft to moderately soft, most households won't need water softening systems for laundry or dishwashing. You'll likely find good efficiency with soaps and detergents, and minimal scale buildup in pipes and appliances. Keep an eye out for potential iron or manganese staining, a common issue with groundwater, and perform regular maintenance on fixtures to prevent sediment buildup. The 2024 water quality report confirmed all monitored parameters met or exceeded state and federal standards, so residents can be assured of safe drinking water.

Geology & Source: Quaternary glacial deposits over Precambrian metamorphic bedrock (schist, gneiss); low carbonate content yields soft to moderately soft water

Other Massachusetts Water Reports

Fairhaven

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

New Bedford

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Head of Westport

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Middleborough

≈ 120–179 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 Acushnet's water safe to drink?

Yes. Acushnet's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 60–119 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Acushnet?

Acushnet's water is moderately hard at ≈ 60–119 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Acushnet compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Acushnet (≈ 60–119 mg/L) is 61 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 Acushnet 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.