Well water hardness in Massachusetts
Across 9 counties of Massachusetts, the median well sampled by the USGS has 2.9 gpg of hardness. Counties range from 1.2 gpg (Barnstable County) to 7.5 gpg (Berkshire County).
Millions of American households drink water from their own well. No utility tests that water and no water quality report covers it. These pages summarise the hardness the U.S. Geological Survey measured in wells county by county, so you know what to expect before you test your own well.
Counties, hardest first
| gpg | mg/L | wells | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire County | 7.5 | 129 | 34 | hard |
| Hampshire County | 4.6 | 79 | 13 | moderately hard |
| Worcester County | 3.6 | 62 | 148 | moderately hard |
| Hampden County | 3.5 | 60 | 36 | moderately hard |
| Norfolk County | 2.9 | 50 | 21 | soft |
| Bristol County | 2.3 | 40 | 11 | soft |
| Middlesex County | 2.2 | 37 | 38 | soft |
| Plymouth County | 1.4 | 23 | 104 | soft |
| Barnstable County | 1.2 | 20 | 543 | soft |
Counties with fewer than 10 sampled wells, or a median outside 5–500 mg/L, are not shown until the figure is reviewed.
Massachusetts: tap water hardness by city → · Well water hardness by state and county →