Dudley Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
276.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.29
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 Dudley, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Dudley | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -29% |
| Washing Machine | 9.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -21% |
| Water Heater | 11.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -25% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Dudley compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dudley, Massachusetts | 109.5 mg/L | 10.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Webster, Massachusetts | 64.5 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Charlton, Massachusetts | 121 mg/L | 11.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Southbridge, Massachusetts | 43.5 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Auburn, Massachusetts | 87 mg/L | 9.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Dudley compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dudley | 109.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Dudley's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Dudley, Massachusetts, in Worcester County — a Worcester County town adjacent to Webster and Oxford in the Blackstone Valley of south-central Massachusetts — receives its water from the Dudley Water Department, drawing from the French River watershed through the south-central Massachusetts distribution.
The moderately hard 109.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 276.9 mg/L are elevated for a New England Precambrian watershed supply — the Precambrian Grenville Province gneiss is insoluble, but the Ordovician Worcester Formation contributes modest calcareous mineral content, and the French River watershed taps deeper, more mineralized groundwater zones in the south-central Massachusetts Blackstone Valley (compare Webster MA: 107/270 in Worcester County comparable; Oxford MA: 111/283 in Worcester County comparable; Dudley consistent moderate from the same Worcester County French River Precambrian insoluble supply). The French River watershed — Precambrian Grenville Province gneiss (insoluble — primary dilutant), Ordovician Worcester Formation (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary French River alluvium (slightly calcareous — minor TDS).
At 109.5 mg/L with TDS 277, Dudley's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 10.7 ppt is very high — a certified filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended — the Worcester County Blackstone Valley industrial legacy (textile mills, chemical manufacturing) contributes to Dudley's very elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Dudley in Worcester County draws from the Dudley Water on the French River watershed (Worcester County, south-central Massachusetts) — the French River drains Precambrian Grenville Province gneiss (insoluble) and Ordovician Worcester Formation (slightly calcareous) — Massachusetts Worcester County French River Precambrian insoluble supply produces moderately hard water at 109.5 mg/L with TDS 276.9 mg/L.