How does Smithfield's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Smithfield (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Smithfield Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

45.5 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 Smithfield, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Smithfield	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 Smithfield compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Smithfield, Rhode Island	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
North Smithfield, Rhode Island	≈ 0–60 mg/L	8.4 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Woonsocket, Rhode Island	≈ 0–60 mg/L	41.2 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
North Scituate, Rhode Island	≈ 0–60 mg/L	8.4 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Johnston, Rhode Island	≈ 0–60 mg/L	3.9 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Smithfield compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Smithfield	≈ 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 Smithfield's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 45.5 mg/LpH: 7.2

The Smithfield Water Supply Board serves Smithfield in Providence County, providing drinking water to about 22,000 residents across roughly 27 square miles. All finished water is purchased wholesale from the Providence Water Supply Board (PWSB) and comes from the Scituate Reservoir system, with no local wells or groundwater source in town service. Treatment is performed by PWSB at the Robert F. Stoessel Water Treatment Plant in Scituate using filtration, disinfection, and corrosion control before distribution through Smithfield’s local infrastructure.

The source watershed spans protected forestland in central Rhode Island and is tied to the Scituate Plateau setting. Reported geology includes glacial deposits plus bedrock associations with Carboniferous sedimentary units such as the Rhode Island Formation and broader metamorphic and igneous terranes. Related descriptions also note Paleozoic metamorphic rocks, including schist and gneiss, with minimal carbonate units. Because limestone and dolomite are limited, there is less calcium and magnesium dissolution, so raw and treated water trend very soft, low in dissolved hardness minerals and alkalinity.

As a soft supply, scale buildup is generally minimal in plumbing, heaters, and appliances, and soaps lather easily with less detergent. Routine maintenance is usually simple, with occasional flushing and normal cleaning. A household water softener is not recommended because additional softening can worsen corrosion risk in already soft systems. Reported quality summaries cited a 48/100 (C) grade and noted lead above health goals at 0.002 to 0.006 mg/L (90th percentile), with 17 total violations since 2018, including 8 health-based; annual CCR detail remains available through PWSB.

Geology & Source: Scituate Plateau reservoir system over glacial till and outwash, Carboniferous Rhode Island Formation sediments, and Avalonian metamorphic-igneous bedrock; limited limestone/dolomite keeps calcium-magnesium dissolution low, producing soft water

Other Rhode Island Water Reports

North Smithfield

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Woonsocket

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

North Scituate

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Johnston

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smithfield's water safe to drink?

Yes. Smithfield'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 Smithfield?

Smithfield'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 Smithfield compare to the USA average?

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