Pawtucket Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
155.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.17
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 Pawtucket, your appliances are currently losing 9% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Pawtucket | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -12% |
| Washing Machine | 11.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -7% |
| Water Heater | 13 yrs | 15 yrs | -13% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Pawtucket compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Pawtucket, Rhode Island | 64.5 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Central Falls, Rhode Island | 65.5 mg/L | 9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Providence, Rhode Island | 71.5 mg/L | 9.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| East Providence, Rhode Island | 15.5 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Lincoln, Rhode Island | 68 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Pawtucket compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Pawtucket | 64.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Pawtucket's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in Providence County adjacent to Providence — the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution (site of Slater Mill, the first successful US textile mill) — draws its municipal water supply from the Scituate Reservoir (the largest freshwater supply in Rhode Island, on the North Branch Pawtuxet River) via the Providence Water Supply Board (PWSB), which distributes Scituate Reservoir water throughout the Providence metropolitan area including Pawtucket. The Scituate Reservoir is maintained by one of New England's classic Proterozoic crystalline watersheds. Water hardness in Pawtucket measures 64.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Pawtucket's moderately soft supply reflects the Scituate Reservoir watershed's Rhode Island bedrock geology. The Scituate Reservoir drains the Proterozoic Avalon Terrane of Rhode Island — the Dedham Granite and related granitic basement of southeastern New England (a Precambrian microcontinent that rifted from Gondwana), along with the Wamsutta Formation (Pennsylvanian red bed sediments in the Narragansett Basin) and North Scituate Formation volcanic rocks. The predominantly granitic and siliceous volcanic basement terrain of the Scituate watershed produces naturally soft water. The 64.5 mg/L is consistent with the Providence Water Board's supply — somewhat harder than purely granitic watersheds due to trace calcareous sedimentary interbeds.
With hardness at 64.5 mg/L, Pawtucket residents enjoy moderately soft water with minimal scale challenges. 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 (Pawtuxet River watershed) via the Providence Water Supply Board (PWSB) — the Rhode Island–Massachusetts Proterozoic Avalon Terrane (Dedham Granite, Wamsutta and North Scituate Formation volcanic and sedimentary) terrain; soft supply at 64.5 mg/L in Providence County.