How does Merrimack's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Merrimack (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Merrimack Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

142.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · est.

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 Merrimack, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Merrimack	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Merrimack compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Merrimack, New Hampshire	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Bedford, New Hampshire	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Nashua, New Hampshire	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Londonderry, New Hampshire	≈ 0–60 mg/L	6 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Manchester, New Hampshire	≈ 0–60 mg/L	18 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Merrimack compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Merrimack	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Merrimack's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 142.2 mg/LpH: 7.6

Merrimack Village District (MVD) provides water to residents and businesses in Merrimack, NH, primarily from groundwater sources via wells, as documented in their 2025 Consumer Confidence Report at www.mvdwater.org. The district operates from 2 Greens Pond Rd, drawing from local aquifers in southern Merrimack County. Treatment occurs at facilities processing well water, with the complete Source Water Assessment Report accessible at their office. The service area covers the town of Merrimack, serving thousands through community systems alongside private wells.

The Merrimack River Watershed shapes local hydrology, with groundwater recharged by precipitation over glaciofluvial deposits and fractured bedrock of the New Hampshire Piedmont province. Paleozoic metamorphic rocks — mica schists and granitic intrusions of the Merrimack Belt — dominate the geology, contributing minimal dissolved solids. Glacial outwash sands further limit mineral pickup, fostering low alkalinity profiles. These crystalline rock aquifers yield naturally soft water, as calcium and magnesium-bearing minerals dissolve poorly in this low-carbonate environment.

Soft water in Merrimack poses no scale buildup risks to appliances, plumbing, or water heaters, reducing maintenance needs and extending equipment life. Soap lathers easily, with no spotting on glassware or fixtures; no water softener is necessary or recommended, as treatment could introduce excess sodium. Focus on occasional pipe flushing for any iron or manganese traces. Water meets EPA standards per the 2025 CCR; concerns include arsenic, iron, manganese, PFAS, and radon from granite geology, addressed through filtration. The utility complies with lead/copper rules via corrosion control.

Geology & Source: Merrimack River Watershed — glacial till, outwash sands, and fractured Paleozoic schists and granites (Merrimack Belt); low carbonate content limits mineral dissolution; naturally soft supply

Other New Hampshire Water Reports

Bedford

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Nashua

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Londonderry

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Manchester

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merrimack's water safe to drink?

Yes. Merrimack's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Merrimack?

Merrimack's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Merrimack compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Merrimack (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Merrimack is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.