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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Malden (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Malden Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

288.3 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · 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 Malden, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Malden	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Malden compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Malden, Massachusetts	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Everett, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Melrose, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Medford, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Winter Hill, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	11.4 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Malden compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Malden	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Malden's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 288.3 mg/LpH: 7.9

Malden, Massachusetts is served by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), a regional utility providing water to 66,263 residents. The primary water source is the Quabbin Reservoir, located in central Massachusetts and fed by the Swift River watershed. Water is treated at MWRA facilities and distributed through the city's public water system, which includes lead service line replacement programs and annual lead testing at 20 sites with known lead service lines.

The Quabbin Reservoir watershed drains Precambrian metamorphic bedrock and glacial deposits characteristic of New England's geology. The region's granitic and gneissic formations contain minimal carbonate minerals, resulting in naturally soft water. MWRA treats the raw water, which has a natural pH near 6.8, to an alkaline pH of approximately 9.0–9.5 to reduce the potential for metals to leach from household plumbing into the distributed water.

At this soft hardness level, Malden residents typically do not require water softeners for household appliances, laundry, or dishwashing, and scale buildup in pipes and appliances is minimal. However, lead in drinking water is a concern; testing has shown that more than 10 percent of lead samples at monitored sites exceeded the EPA action level of 15 ppb, prompting a lead service line replacement program. The city recommends running water for at least one minute before use and having water tested in homes with older plumbing fixtures.

Geology & Source: Quabbin Reservoir fed by Swift River watershed; Precambrian granitic and gneissic metamorphic bedrock with minimal carbonates produces naturally soft water; MWRA adjusts pH from ~6.8 to 9.0–9.5 to reduce metal leaching

Other Massachusetts Water Reports

Everett

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Melrose

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Medford

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Winter Hill

≈ 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 Malden's water safe to drink?

Yes. Malden's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Malden?

Malden's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Malden compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Malden (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 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 Malden 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.