Stoneham Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
133.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.17
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 Stoneham, your appliances are currently losing 9% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Stoneham | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -13% |
| Washing Machine | 11.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -7% |
| Water Heater | 13 yrs | 15 yrs | -13% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Stoneham compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Stoneham, Massachusetts | 65.5 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Wakefield, Massachusetts | 47.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Melrose, Massachusetts | 36 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Reading, Massachusetts | 20.5 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Winchester, Massachusetts | 114.5 mg/L | 11.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Stoneham compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Stoneham | 65.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Stoneham's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Stoneham, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County — a northern Boston suburb in the Middlesex Fells upland corridor, home of the Middlesex Fells Reservation (a major urban wild area), bordered by Medford, Malden, and Woburn — receives its municipal water from the MWRA (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority) or the Stoneham Water Division drawing from Spot Pond — a key reservoir in the Middlesex Fells Reservation's reservoir system — or from the MWRA's Cosgrove-Wachusett Aqueduct supply. Stoneham's water reflects the Middlesex Fells crystalline watershed character.
The moderately soft 65.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 133.2 mg/L reflect the Middlesex Fells watershed's Avalonian granite character. Spot Pond in the Middlesex Fells drains the Precambrian Dedham Granite (Avalonian-terrane Proterozoic granite — a coarse-grained biotite granite forming the Fells' bedrock ridges) and related Proterozoic metamorphic basement of the northeast Boston Basin. These granitic rocks have minimal carbonate content, producing soft source water. The slightly harder reading (65.5 mg/L) compared to purest RI/NH supplies reflects the Fells' suburban watershed proximity to developed land use and MWRA distribution system mineral contributions in the greater Boston supply network.
At 65.5 mg/L, Stoneham's water is moderately soft — comfortable for household use. Scale forms slowly over many months, soap lathers well, and appliances operate efficiently. Semi-annual descaling of heating appliances is adequate. The PFAS level of 7.6 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Middlesex Fells watershed's suburban adjacency to the Woburn-Burlington industrial corridor (famous for the Camp Lejeune-style Woburn toxic contamination documented in A Civil Action), the Route 128 tech corridor, and the greater Boston metropolitan industrial PFAS legacy contribute to Stoneham's elevated reading.
Geology & Source: Stoneham in Middlesex County is served by the MWRA or Stoneham Water Division on Spot Pond (Middlesex Fells Reservoir system) — the Middlesex Fells watershed drains Precambrian Dedham Granite and Avalonian crystalline terrain of the northeast Boston upland — Avalonian granite watershed drainage produces moderately soft water at 65.5 mg/L with TDS 133 mg/L in this northeast Boston Middlesex County suburb.