Portsmouth Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
174.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.19
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 Portsmouth, your appliances are currently losing 9% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Portsmouth | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -14% |
| Washing Machine | 11 yrs | 12 yrs | -8% |
| Water Heater | 12.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -15% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Portsmouth compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Portsmouth, Rhode Island | 69.5 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Middletown, Rhode Island | 51.5 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Bristol, Rhode Island | 59 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Newport, Rhode Island | 57.5 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Fall River, Massachusetts | 45.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Portsmouth compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Portsmouth | 69.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Portsmouth's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in Newport County — a Newport County town adjacent to Middletown and Newport on Aquidneck Island (Rhode Island Island), between Narragansett Bay and the Sakonnet River — receives its municipal water from the Portsmouth Water and Fire District or Aquidneck Land Trust supply, drawing from local reservoirs and wells on Aquidneck Island.
The soft 69.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 174.6 mg/L reflect the Aquidneck Island geology — Precambrian Esmond Granite (insoluble crystalline), Pennsylvanian Narragansett Basin Rhode Island Formation (insoluble quartz argillite), and Pleistocene glacial drift (largely siliceous). The TDS of 174.6 is elevated relative to the soft hardness, possibly reflecting minor brackish water influence from the Narragansett Bay tidal zone in the island aquifer, or minor seawater ion intrusion at shallow well depths.
At 69.5 mg/L, Portsmouth's water is soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain good efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 9.4 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Naval Station Newport (Newport County — one of the oldest and largest US Navy AFFF use sites in the northeastern US, directly on Aquidneck Island), and the Narragansett Bay military PFAS complex produce Portsmouth's very elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Portsmouth in Newport County draws from the Portsmouth Water and Fire District on Bonnet Shores reservoir or Aquidneck Island wells (Newport County) — Aquidneck Island is underlain by Precambrian Esmond Granite and Pennsylvanian Narragansett Basin argillite (insoluble siliceous) — Rhode Island Newport County Precambrian granitic crystalline watershed produces soft water at 69.5 mg/L with TDS 174.6 mg/L in this Newport County Rhode Island town.