Amherst Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
147.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.19
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 Amherst, your appliances are currently losing 9% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Amherst | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -14% |
| Washing Machine | 11 yrs | 12 yrs | -8% |
| Water Heater | 12.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -15% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Amherst compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Amherst, Massachusetts | 70.5 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Amherst Center, Massachusetts | 70.5 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| South Hadley, Massachusetts | 35.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Northampton, Massachusetts | 18 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Easthampton, Massachusetts | 21.5 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Amherst compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Amherst | 70.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Amherst's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Amherst, Massachusetts, in Hampshire County — the quintessential New England college town, home of Amherst College (one of the most selective liberal arts colleges in the United States, founded 1821), the University of Massachusetts Amherst (the flagship UMass campus — the largest university in New England), Hampshire College, a major college community in the Five College Area (Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and UMass Amherst — the world-renowned Five Colleges consortium), and a nationally known progressive and intellectual Massachusetts community — draws its municipal water supply from Atkins Reservoir via the Town of Amherst Water Division. Water hardness in Amherst measures 70.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Amherst's moderate softness reflects the western Massachusetts watershed's calcareous-poor crystalline and basin geology. The Atkins Reservoir and Puffer Pond watersheds at Amherst drain: the Pelham Dome (Precambrian–Devonian calcareous-poor pelham gneiss — calcareous-poor crystalline terrain of the eastern Hampshire County upland); and the Connecticut River Valley fringe (Jurassic Hartford Basin Portland Arkose — calcareous-poor arkosic sandstone of the Mesozoic rift basin). The Town of Amherst treatment of the calcareous-poor crystalline watershed produces the moderate 70.5 mg/L.
With hardness at 70.5 mg/L, Amherst residents enjoy moderately soft water. Town of Amherst Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Massachusetts MassDEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Atkins Reservoir and Puffer Pond watershed via the Town of Amherst Water Division — the Hampshire County western Massachusetts Connecticut River Valley (Jurassic Hartford Basin calcareous-poor Portland Arkose and Precambrian–Devonian calcareous-poor Pelham Dome gneiss of the Amherst upland); moderately soft supply at 70.5 mg/L in Hampshire County.