Swansea Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
177.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.21
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 Swansea, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Swansea | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -19% |
| Washing Machine | 10.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -12% |
| Water Heater | 12.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -17% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Swansea compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Swansea, Massachusetts | 80.5 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Fall River, Massachusetts | 45.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Somerset, Massachusetts | 29 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Bristol, Rhode Island | 59 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Barrington, Rhode Island | 52 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Swansea compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Swansea | 80.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Swansea's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Swansea, Massachusetts, in Bristol County — a Bristol County town adjacent to Somerset and Seekonk on the upper Narragansett Bay watershed in southeast Massachusetts — receives its municipal water from the Swansea Water Division, drawing from local reservoir sources (Bristol County) through the Swansea water system.
The moderately soft 80.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 177.4 mg/L are typical for the southeast Massachusetts Bristol County crystalline watershed supplies (similar to Barrington RI: 52 mg/L; North Attleborough Center: 123.5 mg/L). The Swansea watershed drains the Southern New England Upland — Proterozoic Attleboro Granite (insoluble), Carboniferous Narragansett Basin slate and conglomerate (insoluble), and Quaternary glacial outwash (insoluble quartz sand). The predominantly insoluble crystalline basement produces the moderately soft southeastern Massachusetts supply.
At 80.5 mg/L, Swansea's water is moderately soft — light scale forms slowly in appliances, dishwashers remain efficient, and bathroom fixtures need occasional cleaning. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 8.7 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the Bristol County Swansea industrial corridor (south of Attleboro — jewelry and metals manufacturing PFAS legacy), and the southeast Massachusetts PFAS background from Otis Air National Guard Base (Barnstable County PFAS plume) migrating into the Bristol County watershed contribute to Swansea's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Swansea in Bristol County draws from the Swansea Water Division on local reservoirs (Bristol County, southeast Massachusetts) — the Swansea watershed drains the Southern New England Upland (Proterozoic Attleboro Granite, Carboniferous Narragansett Basin slate — insoluble crystalline) — Massachusetts Bristol County Southern New England crystalline watershed produces moderately soft water at 80.5 mg/L with TDS 177.4 mg/L in this Bristol County Massachusetts town.