Sudbury Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
156.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.20
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 Sudbury, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Sudbury | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -15% |
| Washing Machine | 10.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -9% |
| Water Heater | 12.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -15% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Sudbury compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sudbury, Massachusetts | 73.5 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Wayland, Massachusetts | 63.5 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Framingham Center, Massachusetts | 90 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Concord, Massachusetts | 52.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Acton, Massachusetts | 57.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Sudbury compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sudbury | 73.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Sudbury's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Sudbury, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County — a Middlesex County town adjacent to Wayland and Marlborough in the Route 20 corridor west of Boston, home of the historic Sudbury River MWRA reservoir system — receives its municipal water from the MWRA (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority) or the Sudbury Water District, drawing from the Sudbury Reservoir or Quabbin/Wachusett Reservoir (Middlesex County-Worcester County) through the MWRA system.
The soft 73.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 156.2 mg/L are consistent with the Massachusetts MWRA crystalline upland supply. The Sudbury Reservoir watershed drains the central Massachusetts upland — Precambrian Milford Granite (insoluble crystalline), Devonian Framingham Gneiss (insoluble), and Pennsylvanian Uxbridge Coal Measures (slightly mineral). The predominantly insoluble granite basement produces the soft MWRA supply.
At 73.5 mg/L, Sudbury's water is soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain good efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 8.2 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Hanscom Air Force Base (Middlesex County — AFFF, a major Middlesex County PFAS source in the Sudbury River watershed), and the Route 20 Sudbury commercial-industrial corridor contribute to Sudbury's very elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Sudbury in Middlesex County draws from MWRA on the Sudbury Reservoir and Cochituate Aqueduct (Middlesex County, Massachusetts) — the Sudbury-Cochituate system drains the Central Massachusetts Upland (Precambrian Milford Granite, Devonian Framingham Gneiss — insoluble crystalline) — Massachusetts Middlesex County MWRA Precambrian crystalline watershed produces soft water at 73.5 mg/L with TDS 156.2 mg/L in this Middlesex County Massachusetts town.