Westford Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
197.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.23
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 Westford, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Westford | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -21% |
| Washing Machine | 10.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -13% |
| Water Heater | 12.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -19% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Westford compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Westford, Massachusetts | 87 mg/L | 9.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Chelmsford, Massachusetts | 123 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Acton, Massachusetts | 57.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Lowell, Massachusetts | 99.5 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Concord, Massachusetts | 52.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Westford compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Westford | 87 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Westford's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Westford, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County — a northwestern Middlesex County town along the Route 495 tech corridor, one of the fastest-growing communities in Massachusetts and home to major technology employers (Azurea Networks, JDS Uniphase, NetScout), known for the historic Forge Village mill district and the Westford Academy educational community — receives its municipal water from the Westford Water Division, which draws from local Middlesex County reservoir impoundments — Long Pond and Forge Pond — in the upper Merrimack River watershed. Westford's water supply reflects the northwest Middlesex County crystalline terrain.
The moderately soft 87 mg/L hardness and TDS of 197.8 mg/L reflect the northwest Middlesex County watershed's Avalonian granite and crystalline rock character. Westford's Long Pond and Forge Pond watersheds drain the Newburyport Batholith and related Avalonian crystalline terrain — Proterozoic granite, granodiorite, and gneiss bodies of the Boston Basin-Merrimack Zone crystalline framework. These igneous and metamorphic rocks have negligible carbonate content, producing characteristically soft source water. The moderately soft reading reflects some dissolved mineral contributions from glacial till soils and weathered granite over the Westford watershed, slightly harder than the New Hampshire granite supplies due to denser suburban land use in the Westford watershed.
At 87 mg/L, Westford's water is moderately soft — excellent for the Route 495 tech corridor household. Scale forms slowly over many months, soap lathers well, and appliances operate at high efficiency. Semi-annual descaling of heating appliances is adequate. The PFAS level of 9.1 ppt is notable and warrants a certified drinking water filter — Westford's location in the Route 495 technology-industrial corridor, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing facilities in the northwest Middlesex County cluster, and the broader Massachusetts PFAS industrial burden from the Merrimack River and Middlesex County industrial legacy contribute to this elevated reading.
Geology & Source: Westford in Middlesex County draws from the Westford Water Division on local reservoir impoundments (Long Pond, Forge Pond) — the northwest Middlesex County watershed drains the Newburyport Batholith and Avalonian crystalline terrain (Proterozoic granite and gneiss) with limited carbonate — Avalonian granite watershed drainage produces moderately soft water at 87 mg/L with TDS 198 mg/L in this Middlesex County tech corridor town.