Burlington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
163.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.20
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 Burlington, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Burlington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -16% |
| Washing Machine | 10.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -10% |
| Water Heater | 12.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -16% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Burlington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Burlington, Massachusetts | 76 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Wilmington, Massachusetts | 112.5 mg/L | 10.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Woburn, Massachusetts | 120.5 mg/L | 11.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Lexington, Massachusetts | 71 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Winchester, Massachusetts | 114.5 mg/L | 11.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Burlington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Burlington | 76 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Burlington home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Burlington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Burlington, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County along the Route 128 technology corridor north of Boston, receives its municipal water from the Burlington Department of Public Works Water Division, drawing from a combination of MWRA wholesale supply (Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs) and local groundwater wells tapping the Burlington water table. Burlington is a significant commercial and technology hub on Massachusetts's famous Route 128 innovation beltway, hosting numerous corporate campuses and light industrial facilities. The Burlington DPW blends MWRA supply with local groundwater to meet demand throughout the community.
The soft 76 mg/L hardness reflects the composite character of Burlington's blended supply. Quabbin Reservoir water from MWRA is very soft (~50–60 mg/L) from its Central Highland crystalline watershed — granites, gneisses, and metavolcanics with essentially no carbonate content. Local Burlington groundwater wells tap glacial sand and gravel aquifer materials containing some calcareous glacial till fragments, modestly elevating hardness above the pure MWRA baseline. The blended result falls in the comfortable soft range without requiring softening treatment.
At 76 mg/L, Burlington's water is soft — a pleasant, appliance-friendly supply for this suburban community. Soap lathers well, appliances scale slowly over many months, and glassware from the dishwasher emerges with minimal spotting. Semi-annual descaling of kettles and coffee machines is adequate. The primary concern for Burlington residents is the elevated PFAS level of 8.4 ppt — the Route 128 technology and manufacturing corridor has produced among the highest PFAS detections in Middlesex County, reflecting decades of defense electronics, semiconductor, and chemical manufacturing activity in the area. Residents are advised to install a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter for all drinking and cooking water.
Geology & Source: Burlington in Middlesex County draws from the MWRA Quabbin-Wachusett system combined with local reservoir and groundwater sources — the Burlington area overlies Precambrian Andover Granite and Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks with negligible carbonate content — crystalline New England watershed terrain yields soft source water at 76 mg/L, modestly elevated above pure Quabbin supply by local groundwater blending, with elevated PFAS from the Route 128 corridor.