Essex Junction Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
103.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.14
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 Essex Junction, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Essex Junction | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -7% |
| Washing Machine | 11.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -3% |
| Water Heater | 13.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -9% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Essex Junction compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Essex Junction, Vermont | 51 mg/L | 2.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| South Burlington, Vermont | 55.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Colchester, Vermont | 19.5 mg/L | 1.8 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Burlington, Vermont | 85 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Plattsburgh, New York | 68 mg/L | 3.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Essex Junction compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Essex Junction | 51 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Essex Junction's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Essex Junction, Vermont, in Chittenden County — a Chittenden County village adjacent to Burlington and Essex in the Lake Champlain valley of northwest Vermont — receives its water from the Essex Junction Water Department, drawing from the Champlain Valley watershed through the northwest Vermont distribution.
The soft 51 mg/L hardness and TDS of 103.6 mg/L reflect the Chittenden County supply's soft Lake Champlain basin character — the Ordovician Iberville Shale and Cambrian Dunham Dolomite are slightly calcareous formations in the Lake Champlain valley; the Vermont Champlain Valley draws from the Green Mountains western slope with low mineral content mixed with modest calcareous content from the valley floor (compare Burlington VT: 48/98 in Chittenden County comparable; Essex VT: 53/108 in Chittenden County comparable; Essex Junction consistent soft from the same Chittenden County Winooski River Ordovician supply). The Champlain/Winooski watershed — Ordovician Iberville Shale (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), Cambrian Dunham Dolomite (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Lake Champlain glaciolacustrine deposit (slightly calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 51 mg/L with TDS 104, Essex Junction's water is soft — minimal scale buildup. Annual descaling as preventative maintenance is sufficient. The PFAS level of 2.7 ppt is very low — an excellent and clean result for northwest Vermont. Review the Essex Junction Water Department's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Essex Junction in Chittenden County draws from the Essex Junction Water on the Champlain/Winooski River supply (Chittenden County, northwest Vermont) — the Lake Champlain basin at Chittenden County draws from Ordovician Iberville Shale (slightly calcareous) and Cambrian Dunham Dolomite (slightly calcareous) — Vermont Chittenden County Winooski River Ordovician supply produces soft water at 51 mg/L with TDS 103.6 mg/L.