Lowell Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
240.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.27
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 Lowell, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Lowell | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -26% |
| Washing Machine | 9.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Lowell compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lowell, Massachusetts | 99.5 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Dracut, Massachusetts | 106 mg/L | 10.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Chelmsford, Massachusetts | 123 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Tewksbury, Massachusetts | 92 mg/L | 9.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Billerica, Massachusetts | 28 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Lowell compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lowell | 99.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Lowell's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Lowell, Massachusetts — a historic mill city at the confluence of the Merrimack and Concord Rivers — draws its municipal water supply from two primary sources managed by Lowell Regional Water Utility (LRWU): the Merrimack River via the Lowell Regional Water Utility intake; and the Beaver Brook Reservoir system in the Lowell watershed. The Merrimack River at Lowell collects drainage from much of New Hampshire and the Massachusetts Merrimack Valley. Lowell also draws from interconnections with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Cosgrove/Wachusett Reservoir system during high-demand periods. Water hardness measures 99.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Lowell's moderately soft supply reflects the mixed geology of the Merrimack River watershed at the lower Massachusetts reach. The Merrimack headwaters drain the New Hampshire White Mountains — underlain by the Precambrian Ordovician Oliverian Gneiss, Kinsman Granodiorite, and Silurian Littleton Formation schist (crystalline, calcium-poor terrain). The middle Merrimack in New Hampshire crosses the Devonian Concord Granite and the Merrimack Synclinorium's metasedimentary formations (Silurian Rangeley Formation, Smalls Falls Formation), contributing moderate dissolved minerals. By the time the Merrimack reaches Lowell, it has been significantly diluted by precipitation throughout the watershed, resulting in a moderately soft supply.
At 99.5 mg/L, Lowell residents experience moderate scale accumulation in household use. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is a practical routine. Dishwashers produce clean glassware with moderate rinse-aid use. Lowell Regional Water Utility consistently delivers water meeting all Massachusetts DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Merrimack River watershed via the City of Lowell Utilities — the Merrimack drains the Precambrian–Ordovician New Hampshire Highlands gneiss and Silurian–Devonian sedimentary and volcanic sequences of the White Mountains; the granitic and metasedimentary Merrimack watershed produces moderately hard supply at 99.5 mg/L at the lower Massachusetts Merrimack reach.