Middleborough Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
174 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Middleborough, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Middleborough | 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 Middleborough compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Middleborough, Massachusetts | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 197 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| East Bridgewater, Massachusetts | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 23.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Carver, Massachusetts | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 10.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Raynham, Massachusetts | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 297.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Taunton, Massachusetts | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Middleborough compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Middleborough | ≈ 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 Middleborough's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Middleborough Water Supply serves approximately 16,660 residents in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The utility sources its drinking water exclusively from groundwater aquifers, with treatment involving disinfection with hypochlorite. The department is located at 48 Wareham Street, Middleborough, MA 02346 (contact: 508-946-2482). No specific treatment plant names are detailed in available reports. The utility operates independently of the MWRA regional system, relying on on-site wells tapping local stratified-drift aquifers to serve the town's population.
The watershed encompasses local groundwater recharge areas within the Town of Middleborough, primarily relying on wells tapping stratified-drift aquifers composed of Pleistocene glacial outwash sands and gravels. Underlying metamorphic and sedimentary rocks from the Carboniferous Narragansett Basin carry dolomitic influences, contributing to a hard supply through dissolution of calcium and magnesium from limestone and marble formations. This mineralisation imparts higher dissolved solids typical of New England groundwater.
Hard water in Middleborough causes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, kettles, dishwashers, and washing machines, with visible deposits on fixtures and reduced cleaning performance. Keeping water heaters below 140°F, regular tank flushing, vinegar descaling of faucets and tiles, and adding laundry softeners such as borax are effective maintenance measures. A whole-house water softener is recommended to prevent scaling and improve soap efficiency. Recent assessments note exceedances in 4 contaminants above EPA health guidelines, including Carbofuran and Bromodichloroacetic acid; checking the annual CCR for current compliance data is advised.
Geology & Source: Stratified-drift aquifers in SE Massachusetts — Pleistocene glacial outwash over Carboniferous Narragansett Basin bedrock with dolomitic marble; carbonate dissolution of calcium and magnesium yields hard water
Other Massachusetts Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Middleborough's water safe to drink?
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How does Middleborough compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Middleborough is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.