North Kingstown Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

5.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

138.1 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 North Kingstown, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In North Kingstown	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 North Kingstown compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ North Kingstown, Rhode Island	≈ 0–59 mg/L	116.7 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Narragansett, Rhode Island	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
East Greenwich, Rhode Island	≈ 60–120 mg/L	10.4 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
South Kingstown, Rhode Island	≈ 0–60 mg/L	9.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
West Warwick, Rhode Island	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How North Kingstown compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ North Kingstown	≈ 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 North Kingstown's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 138.1 mg/LpH: 5.7

The North Kingstown Town of Water Utility serves approximately 26,000 residents across North Kingstown, Rhode Island, including areas like Wickford Village, Hamilton, and Quonset Point. The utility operates under the North Kingstown Department of Water Supply, contactable at 401-268-1522 or 401-268-1520 for water quality inquiries. The official Consumer Confidence Report is available via northkingstownri.gov, with the 2021 edition accessible as a PDF. The supply draws from local sources in the Narragansett Bay watershed, with treatment processes ensuring compliance with EPA standards, as confirmed by recent testing.

The water supply is influenced by the Narragansett Bay watershed, characterized by glacial deposits and sedimentary formations from the Paleozoic Narragansett Basin, including Pennsylvanian-age quartzites and shales overlain by Quaternary glacial till. These low-carbonate glacial sands and gravels, drawn from the Hunt–Annaquatucket–Pettaquamscutt aquifer system underlain by Precambrian Rhode Island gneiss, contribute to a soft water character with minimal dissolution of calcium and magnesium minerals. The region features limited limestone or dolomite outcrops, resulting in naturally soft, low-mineralized groundwater requiring minimal softening treatment.

As soft water, North Kingstown's supply poses little risk of scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, or dishwashers, reducing maintenance needs and extending appliance life without frequent descaling. Soap and detergents lather easily, minimizing usage and residue on fixtures or laundry. No water softener is recommended; instead, basic filtration is advised if concerned about other contaminants. Aggregator analyses note six contaminants exceeding health advocacy guidelines, including nitrates, chromium-6, TTHMs (total trihalomethanes), bromodichloromethane, and dibromochloromethane; the utility reports full compliance with EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, with treatment including standard disinfection.

Geology & Source: Hunt–Annaquatucket–Pettaquamscutt aquifer system; Precambrian Rhode Island gneiss and Quaternary glacial outwash — calcareous-poor crystalline terrain yields moderately soft supply in Washington County

Other Rhode Island Water Reports

Narragansett

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

East Greenwich

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

South Kingstown

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

West Warwick

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Kingstown's water safe to drink?

Yes. North Kingstown'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 North Kingstown?

North Kingstown'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 North Kingstown compare to the USA average?

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