Orient Heights Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2.5 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
74.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.11
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 Orient Heights, your appliances are currently losing 6% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Orient Heights | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -4% |
| Washing Machine | 12 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 13.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -7% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Orient Heights compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Orient Heights, Massachusetts | 42 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Suffolk Downs Station, Massachusetts | 75 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Revere, Massachusetts | 18.5 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Winthrop, Massachusetts | 119 mg/L | 11.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Chelsea, Massachusetts | 123.5 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Orient Heights compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Orient Heights | 42 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Orient Heights's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Orient Heights, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County — a Suffolk County neighborhood of East Boston adjacent to Winthrop and Revere on Boston Harbor in east Boston — receives its water from the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC), drawing from Quabbin Reservoir and Wachusett Reservoir (via MWRA) through the Boston metro distribution system.
The soft 42 mg/L hardness and very low TDS of 74.5 mg/L are consistent with the BWSC Quabbin-served Boston communities — essentially identical to other East Boston neighborhoods (East Boston: ~40 mg/L), confirming the uniform Boston metro MWRA Quabbin supply. The Quabbin Reservoir drains the New England Upland — Precambrian Pelham Granite (insoluble), Ordovician Amherst Formation (insoluble), and Devonian Goshen Formation (insoluble). The entirely insoluble New England granite and metamorphic watershed produces the soft Boston metro supply.
At 42 mg/L, Orient Heights' water is soft — light scale forms very slowly in appliances, dishwashers are highly efficient, and bathroom fixtures need minimal cleaning. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 6.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Hanscom Air Force Base (Middlesex County — AFFF), the East Boston Logan International Airport (AFFF on airport grounds), and the Boston Harbor PFAS industrial background contribute to Orient Heights' moderately elevated readings relative to the otherwise very clean Quabbin source.
Geology & Source: Orient Heights in Suffolk County draws from the Boston Water and Sewer Commission on the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs (Suffolk County, eastern Massachusetts) — the Quabbin drains the New England Upland (Precambrian Pelham Granite — insoluble) — Massachusetts Suffolk County BWSC Quabbin New England crystalline watershed produces soft water at 42 mg/L with TDS 74.5 mg/L in this Suffolk County Massachusetts neighborhood.