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

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

Barrington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

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

Appliance	In Barrington	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 Barrington compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Barrington, Rhode Island	≈ 0–59 mg/L	7.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Warren, Rhode Island	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Seekonk, Massachusetts	≈ 0–60 mg/L	9.2 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Bristol, Rhode Island	≈ 180+ mg/L	8.3 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
East Providence, Rhode Island	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Barrington compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 113.6 mg/LpH: 7.5

The Barrington Water Division, operated by the Town of Barrington in Bristol County, Rhode Island, serves approximately 17,000 residents across 8.3 square miles. Water is primarily purchased from the Providence Water Supply Board (PWSB), which sources from the Scituate Reservoir system in Scituate, RI, supplemented by the Providence River during peak demand. Treatment occurs at the Robert E. Squibb Treatment Plant in Johnston, RI, with final distribution through Barrington's local infrastructure. No dedicated treatment plant exists within Barrington itself. The primary Scituate Reservoir watershed spans 95 square miles of forested upland in Providence County, protected within the Scituate Reservoir State Park.

Underlying geology consists of Avalonian terrane metamorphic rocks from the Carboniferous period, including gneisses, schists, and granitic intrusions with minimal limestone or dolomite. This non-carbonate bedrock results in very soft water with low dissolved minerals, as precipitation infiltrates quickly through glacial soils without picking up significant calcium or magnesium. The Providence Water Supply Board's water sources are predominantly soft, and this is reflected in Barrington's supply.

When it comes to appliances, Barrington residents don't have to worry about scale buildup on fixtures, pipes, or appliances like water heaters and dishwashers. Soap lathers easily, reducing detergent use, and no special maintenance for hardness-related issues is needed. In fact, water softeners are unnecessary and not recommended, as they could overly strip essential minerals; instead, focus on routine filter changes for sediment or taste. The Rhode Island Department of Health oversees compliance, with annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) from Providence Water confirming Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

Geology & Source: Rhode Island - glacial till; sand and gravel deposits; fractured Providence Formation metamorphic bedrock; Carboniferous period schists and granites

Other Rhode Island Water Reports

Warren

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Seekonk

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Bristol

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

East Providence

≈ 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 Barrington's water safe to drink?

Yes. Barrington'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 Barrington?

Barrington'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 Barrington compare to the USA average?

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