Somersworth Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
219.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.22
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 Somersworth, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Somersworth | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -19% |
| Washing Machine | 10.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -13% |
| Water Heater | 12.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -18% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Somersworth compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Somersworth, New Hampshire | 82.5 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Dover, New Hampshire | 22.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Rochester, New Hampshire | 56 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Durham, New Hampshire | 25 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Sanford, Maine | 35.5 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Somersworth compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Somersworth | 82.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Somersworth's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Somersworth, New Hampshire, in Strafford County — a Strafford County city adjacent to Dover and Rollinsford on the Salmon Falls River in southeast New Hampshire — receives its water from the Somersworth Water Department or Strafford County utilities, drawing from the Salmon Falls River through the southeast New Hampshire distribution.
The soft 82.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 219.7 mg/L reflect the Strafford County Salmon Falls supply's soft character — the Precambrian Grenville Province gneiss is highly insoluble, contributing negligible dissolved minerals to the pristine New Hampshire mountain runoff (compare Dover NH: 80/214 in Strafford County comparable; Rollinsford NH: 85/225 in Strafford County comparable; Somersworth consistent soft from the same Strafford County Salmon Falls River Precambrian insoluble supply). The Salmon Falls watershed — Precambrian Grenville Province gneiss (insoluble — primary dilutant), Ordovician Quimby Formation (insoluble — secondary dilutant), and Quaternary glacial outwash (slightly calcareous — minor TDS).
At 82.5 mg/L with TDS 220, Somersworth's water is soft — minimal scale buildup. Annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 8.9 ppt is very high — a certified drinking water filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended — Pease Air Force Base (now Pease International Tradeport), a major legacy PFAS contamination site in New Hampshire, is the primary driver of Somersworth's very elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Somersworth in Strafford County draws from the Somersworth Water on Salmon Falls River reservoir (Strafford County, southeast New Hampshire) — the Salmon Falls watershed drains Precambrian Grenville Province gneiss (insoluble) and Ordovician Quimby Formation (insoluble) — New Hampshire Strafford County Salmon Falls River Precambrian insoluble supply produces soft water at 82.5 mg/L with TDS 219.7 mg/L.