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

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

Warwick Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

80 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 Warwick, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Warwick	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 Warwick compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Warwick, Rhode Island	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
East Greenwich, Rhode Island	≈ 60–120 mg/L	10.4 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Cranston, Rhode Island	≈ 0–60 mg/L	9.8 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
West Warwick, Rhode Island	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Barrington, Rhode Island	≈ 0–60 mg/L	7.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Warwick compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 80 mg/LpH: 7.3

Kent County Water Authority supplies water to Warwick, Rhode Island, serving residential and commercial customers across the city's approximately 49 square miles. The utility sources water from local reservoirs and rivers, with treatment at authority-managed facilities. Warwick purchases much of its supply from the Providence Water Supply Board, which operates the Field's Point Water Treatment Plant, while the Kent County system handles distribution and additional processing. Annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) are available on warwickri.gov, detailing testing and compliance results for all regulated contaminants.

The watershed lies within Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay drainage basin, shaped by metamorphic schist, gneiss, and igneous granite bedrock from Paleozoic eras. Glacial deposits and coastal marine sediments overlay these resistant formations, influencing surface and groundwater chemistry. The predominance of resistant bedrock over mineral-leaching limestone imparts a characteristically soft character to the water, releasing fewer calcium and magnesium ions compared to carbonate-rich regions; minor sedimentary pockets and soluble carbonates in lowland areas add only slight mineralization to the supply.

As soft water, Warwick's supply causes minimal scale buildup, reducing wear on pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. Soap lathers easily without excess scum, and skin or hair dryness from bathing is less common. Standard maintenance is sufficient; a water softener is typically unnecessary and could introduce sodium unnecessarily, though targeted filtration may address specific aesthetic concerns. Water meets Safe Drinking Water Act standards, tested by the Rhode Island Department of Health; CCRs detail compliance for pH (typically neutral range), lead and copper (below action levels via corrosion control), and disinfection byproducts. No specific PFAS exceedances are noted in available data; treatment includes filtration, chlorination, and fluoridation.

Geology & Source: Rhode Island Paleozoic metamorphic and igneous bedrock — schist, gneiss, granite; resistant rocks yield soft water with minimal mineral dissolution; glacial deposits and coastal marine sediments add slight mineralization

Other Rhode Island Water Reports

East Greenwich

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Cranston

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

West Warwick

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Barrington

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Warwick's water safe to drink?

Yes. Warwick'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 Warwick?

Warwick'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 Warwick compare to the USA average?

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