Middletown Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
112 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.14
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 Middletown, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Middletown | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -7% |
| Washing Machine | 11.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -3% |
| Water Heater | 13.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -10% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Middletown compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Middletown, Rhode Island | 51.5 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Newport, Rhode Island | 57.5 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Portsmouth, Rhode Island | 69.5 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Bristol, Rhode Island | 59 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| North Kingstown, Rhode Island | 59.5 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Middletown compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Middletown | 51.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Middletown's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Middletown, Rhode Island, in Newport County — a Newport County town adjacent to Newport and Portsmouth on Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island — receives its municipal water from the Middletown Water Division, drawing from Gardners Pond, Paradise Pond, and Easton Pond (Newport County, Aquidneck Island) through the Middletown treatment plant.
The very soft 51.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 112 mg/L reflect Aquidneck Island's small, crystalline watershed. Aquidneck Island is underlain by Precambrian Newport Neck gneiss (insoluble crystalline), Pennsylvanian Narragansett Coal Basin metasedimentary rocks (insoluble), and Quaternary glacial deposits (limited carbonate content). The small island watersheds produce very soft water with limited dissolved minerals.
At 51.5 mg/L, Middletown's water is very soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers very abundantly, and appliances maintain excellent efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 7.6 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Naval Station Newport (Aquidneck Island — AFFF training facility and active Navy base on Middletown/Newport), one of the highest-density PFAS sources in Rhode Island, directly on the Newport County aquifer complex, produces Middletown's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Middletown in Newport County draws from the Middletown Water Division on Gardners Pond and Paradise Pond (Newport County, Rhode Island) — the Newport County ponds drain Aquidneck Island (Precambrian Newport Neck gneiss, Pennsylvanian Narragansett Coal Basin — insoluble crystalline) — Rhode Island Newport County Aquidneck Island Precambrian crystalline watershed produces very soft water at 51.5 mg/L with TDS 112 mg/L in this Newport County Rhode Island town.