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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Duxbury (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Duxbury Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

290.3 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Duxbury, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Duxbury	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Duxbury compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Duxbury, Massachusetts	≈ 120–179 mg/L	348.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Kingston, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Hanover, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	113.3 ppt	🟢 Soft	mixed
Norwell, Massachusetts	≈ 120–179 mg/L	170.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Carver, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	10.3 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Duxbury compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Duxbury	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Duxbury's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 290.3 mg/LpH: 7.9

The Duxbury Water Department draws all its water from groundwater sources, operating seven municipal wells that tap into the Plymouth-Carver Aquifer System. Treatment processes include filtration and hypochlorite disinfection. This utility is tasked with providing high-quality drinking water to homes and businesses across Duxbury, Massachusetts.

The Duxbury water supply originates from the Plymouth-Carver Aquifer, a Pleistocene glacial outwash formation made up of sand and gravel deposits resting on Precambrian crystalline bedrock. This aquifer system, common in southeastern Massachusetts, holds substantial amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. The geology results in a hard water supply, typical for glacial aquifers in New England, as groundwater filters through mineral-rich glacial deposits before reaching the water table.

Duxbury's hard water leads to the usual scaling and maintenance issues for home appliances, water heaters, and plumbing. Homeowners often notice mineral buildup in kettles, diminished soap effectiveness, and faster corrosion in hot water systems. For those wanting to lessen these impacts and prolong appliance life, especially in high-temperature uses, a water softening system is often recommended. Recent testing also revealed PFAS contamination in five of the town's seven wells, exceeding EPA limits.

Geology & Source: Plymouth-Carver Aquifer System; glacial outwash sand and gravel over Precambrian bedrock; calcium and magnesium dissolution causes hardness

Other Massachusetts Water Reports

Kingston

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Hanover

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Norwell

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Carver

≈ 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 Duxbury's water safe to drink?

Yes. Duxbury's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Duxbury?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Duxbury's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Duxbury compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Duxbury (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 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 Duxbury 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.