Norwood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
1.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
36.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.06
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 Norwood, your appliances are currently losing 3% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Norwood | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | — |
| Washing Machine | 12.7 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -2% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Norwood compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Norwood, Massachusetts | 23.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Westwood, Massachusetts | 91 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Dedham, Massachusetts | 90.5 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Canton, Massachusetts | 96 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Needham, Massachusetts | 93.5 mg/L | 9.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Norwood compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Norwood | 23.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Norwood's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Norwood, Massachusetts, in Norfolk County — a major southwest Boston suburban community (Norwood is a significant Norfolk County town — a southwest Boston suburb in the Route 128/I-95 technology corridor adjacent to Canton and Walpole; Norwood is known as the 'Radio Town' (Norwood was the home of Norwood's Sylvania, a major electronics manufacturer, and one of the earliest radio broadcasting stations in New England had some connection to the Norwood area)); Norwood Town Common is one of the most classic and well-preserved New England town commons in eastern Massachusetts, a diverse Norfolk County community with a primarily Irish-American, Italian-American, and working-class suburban population, home of the Norwood Memorial Municipal Airport (one of the most active general aviation airports in Massachusetts), adjacent to Walpole and Canton in the southwest Norfolk County corridor, and a classic Southwest Suburban Boston Route 128 corridor community — draws its municipal water supply from the Upper Neponset Valley aquifer via the Town of Norwood Water Division. Water hardness in Norwood measures 23.5 mg/L — classified as very soft.
Norwood's very soft supply reflects the southwest Boston Norfolk County glacial outwash aquifer's calcareous-poor character. The Upper Neponset Valley glacial aquifer draws from Quaternary calcareous-poor glacial outwash (calcareous-poor). Norwood Water Division produces the very soft 23.5 mg/L.
With hardness at 23.5 mg/L, Norwood residents enjoy very soft water. Town of Norwood Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Massachusetts DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Upper Neponset River Valley aquifer (glacial outwash) via the Town of Norwood Water Division — the Norfolk County southwest Boston suburban Norwood corridor (Quaternary calcareous-poor glacial outwash and Precambrian calcareous-poor Dedham Granite — the extremely calcareous-poor southwest Boston Norfolk County crystalline and outwash watershed; excellent treatment); very soft supply at 23.5 mg/L in Norfolk County.