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

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

Mashpee Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

5.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.001 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

31.3 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 Mashpee, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Mashpee	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 Mashpee compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Mashpee, Massachusetts	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Barnstable, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	69.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Hyannis, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	107.8 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Yarmouth, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	219.1 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
South Yarmouth, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	6.1 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Mashpee compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Mashpee	≈ 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 Mashpee's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 31.3 mg/LpH: 5.3

Mashpee Water District provides purchased water to residents of Mashpee, Massachusetts, and surrounding communities in Barnstable County on Cape Cod. Rather than operating its own treatment plants, the utility draws supply from the regional Cape Cod water systems. The Mashpee water supply originates from the Cape Cod glacial outwash aquifer system. This system is composed of Quaternary-age sand and gravel deposits that lie atop Cretaceous marine sediments. The hydrogeological setting here results in water that has a moderate mineral content, characteristic of the region.

The geology of the Cape Cod area significantly shapes its water chemistry. The ground is primarily composed of permeable glacial materials, specifically sand and gravel, which overlie older Cretaceous bedrock. As water filters through these Quaternary formations, it picks up dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. This interaction with the geological substrate gives the water its moderate hardness, a common trait for southeastern Massachusetts water supplies.

Homeowners in Mashpee might notice a bit of scale forming in appliances like kettles, coffee makers, and water heaters over time due to this moderate hardness. You may also find that soaps and detergents don't lather quite as readily. While not strictly necessary for everyone, a water softener could be a good investment for households that use a lot of water or have particularly sensitive appliances. Regular cleaning to remove any scale buildup and using softening additives for laundry can help manage the effects.

Geology & Source: Cape Cod glacial outwash aquifer; Quaternary sand and gravel over Cretaceous sediments yield moderate hardness

Other Massachusetts Water Reports

Barnstable

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Hyannis

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Yarmouth

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

South Yarmouth

≈ 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 Mashpee's water safe to drink?

Yes. Mashpee'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 Mashpee?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Mashpee'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 Mashpee compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Mashpee (≈ 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 Mashpee 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.