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

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

Nashua Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

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

Appliance	In Nashua	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 Nashua compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Nashua, New Hampshire	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Tyngsboro, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	14.3 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Merrimack, New Hampshire	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Londonderry, New Hampshire	≈ 0–60 mg/L	6 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Pelham, New Hampshire	≈ 0–60 mg/L	4.7 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Nashua compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Nashua	≈ 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 Nashua's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 199.7 mg/LpH: 8

Pennichuck Water Works serves Nashua, New Hampshire, and surrounding areas in Hillsborough County, providing water to approximately 87,932 people. The utility sources its supply from surface water including the Merrimack River, as well as rainfall drains, lakes, ponds, and wells. Treatment occurs at Pennichuck's facilities, where chemical processes address contaminants to meet regulatory standards, with no reported MCL violations in the service area covering greater Nashua.

The Merrimack River watershed spans 117 miles between New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Paleozoic schists and gneisses of the Merrimack Belt dominate the regional bedrock — these igneous and metamorphic formations are low in calcium and magnesium and highly resistant to dissolution. Pleistocene glacial till contributes trace calcareous materials in alluvial river valley deposits, but overall mineral leaching remains minimal, yielding characteristically soft water.

Soft water in Nashua means minimal scaling on fixtures, pipes, and appliances like hot water heaters and boilers, reducing maintenance needs and energy costs. Soap lathers easily without scum buildup. No water softener is typically recommended, as the supply avoids hard water issues. However, PFAS levels exceed CDC health guidelines at 16 ppt, linked to upstream Merrimack River pollution; contaminants like total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and dichloroacetic acid also exceed health guidelines from chlorine disinfection reacting with organics, though all are within EPA legal limits.

Geology & Source: Merrimack River watershed; Paleozoic granite, schist, and gneiss of the Merrimack Belt resist mineral dissolution, yielding soft water — Pleistocene glacial till adds trace calcareous sediments in alluvial deposits

Other New Hampshire Water Reports

Tyngsboro

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Merrimack

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Londonderry

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Pelham

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Report an Issue

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 Nashua's water safe to drink?

Yes. Nashua'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 Nashua?

Nashua'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 Nashua compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Nashua (≈ 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 Nashua 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.