Holden Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
185.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.22
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 Holden, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Holden | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -19% |
| Washing Machine | 10.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -13% |
| Water Heater | 12.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -18% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Holden compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Holden, Massachusetts | 83 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Worcester, Massachusetts | 20 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Auburn, Massachusetts | 87 mg/L | 9.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Shrewsbury, Massachusetts | 121.5 mg/L | 11.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Millbury, Massachusetts | 54.5 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Holden compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Holden | 83 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Holden's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Holden, Massachusetts, in Worcester County — a Worcester County town adjacent to Paxton and Worcester in central Massachusetts, in the Wachusett Reservoir watershed — receives its municipal water from the Holden Water Division, drawing from the Quinapoxet River and local reservoirs or the MWRA Wachusett Reservoir (Worcester County) through the Holden treatment system.
The moderately soft 83 mg/L hardness and TDS of 185.2 mg/L reflect central Massachusetts upland crystalline supply character (similar to other MWRA-adjacent communities: Sudbury: 73.5 mg/L). The Quinapoxet River drains the Central Massachusetts Upland — Precambrian Wachusett Gneiss (insoluble crystalline), the Ordovician-Cambrian metamorphic rocks (mostly insoluble), and the Precambrian Ayer Granodiorite (insoluble). The predominantly insoluble Precambrian basement produces the soft central Massachusetts supply.
At 83 mg/L, Holden's water is moderately soft — light scale forms slowly in appliances, dishwashers remain efficient, and bathroom fixtures need occasional cleaning. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 8.9 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Hanscom Air Force Base (Middlesex County AFFF — in the Concord River/Sudbury watershed adjacent), Devens (former Fort Devens — Middlesex/Worcester County PFAS plume in the Nashua River watershed), and the central Massachusetts PFAS complex contribute to Holden's very elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Holden in Worcester County draws from the Holden Water Division on the Quinapoxet River and local reservoirs (Worcester County, central Massachusetts) — the watershed drains the Central Massachusetts Upland (Precambrian Wachusett Gneiss — insoluble crystalline) — Massachusetts Worcester County central upland Precambrian crystalline watershed produces moderately soft water at 83 mg/L with TDS 185.2 mg/L in this Worcester County Massachusetts town.