Cumberland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
195.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.20
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 Cumberland, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Cumberland | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -16% |
| Washing Machine | 10.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -10% |
| Water Heater | 12.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -16% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Cumberland compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cumberland, Rhode Island | 75 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Lincoln, Rhode Island | 68 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Central Falls, Rhode Island | 65.5 mg/L | 9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Woonsocket, Rhode Island | 48 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Pawtucket, Rhode Island | 64.5 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Cumberland compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cumberland | 75 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Cumberland's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Cumberland, Rhode Island, in Providence County — a major north Providence County community (Cumberland is one of the larger towns in Providence County — a north Rhode Island community on the Massachusetts border in the Blackstone River Valley), home of Diamond Hill State Park (a significant Rhode Island state park with rocky quartzite outcrops along Diamond Hill — a major hiking and recreation area in north Rhode Island), a diverse Providence County community with a significant Portuguese-American, Cape Verdean-American, and Hispanic-American population, and a community in the historic Blackstone Valley textile mill corridor (the Blackstone River Valley was the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution — Slater Mill in Pawtucket, just south of Cumberland, was the first successful water-powered textile mill in the United States) — draws its municipal water supply via the Providence Water Supply Board. Water hardness in Cumberland measures 75 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Cumberland's moderate softness reflects the north Rhode Island watershed's calcareous-poor crystalline geology. The Scituate Reservoir watershed in Providence County drains: the Precambrian–Paleozoic Rhode Island Avalon Terrane (calcareous-poor Dedham Granodiorite, Esmond Granite, and Blackstone Group gneiss — the highly resistant Rhode Island crystalline basement); and the calcareous-poor Blackstone River Valley schist and gneiss terrain. Providence Water's treatment produces the moderate 75 mg/L.
With hardness at 75 mg/L, Cumberland residents enjoy moderately soft water. Providence Water Supply Board consistently delivers water meeting all Rhode Island DEM and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Scituate Reservoir watershed (Providence Water Supply Board) via the Providence Water Supply Board — the Providence County north Rhode Island Blackstone River Valley (Precambrian–Paleozoic calcareous-poor Rhode Island Avalon Terrane gneiss and granite — the calcareous-poor north Rhode Island crystalline basement; Providence Water north distribution to Cumberland Providence County zone); moderately soft supply at 75 mg/L in Providence County.