Hardness
Moderately Hard
69.1 PPM · 4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Boxford, MA 01921
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Essex County.
4 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Andrews Farm Water Co.,inc.
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Essex County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
4 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 150 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
69.1 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
69.1
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 69.1 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
121
Nearest site
3.1 mi
Observation range
Jan 13, 2016–Sep 25, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: MA-BJW 295 BOXFORD, MA (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 01921 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Boxford median
69 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 69.1–69.1 PPM
Massachusetts median
49 PPM
20 PPM higher328 indexed ZIP readings · Range 24.3–128 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 76
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 4
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MA3038020 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038001 | Archived | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | MA3038020 | Addressed | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038020 | Archived | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038020 | Archived | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Public Notice | MA3038020 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038020 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | MA3038020 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | MA3038020 | Addressed | Dec 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038020 | Addressed | Dec 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038020 | Archived | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | MA3038020 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | MA3038020 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Nitrate | MA3038020 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038020 | Archived | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038020 | Addressed | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | MA3038020 | Addressed | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038020 | Archived | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MA3038020 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| Public Notice | MA3038020 | Addressed | Jul 1, 2024 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Boxford ZIP 01921 using 69.1 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Revised Total Coliform Rule, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS have a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Boxford
Is tap water safe in Boxford?+
EPA ECHO reports 4 active health-based violations among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 69.1 PPM, or 4 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.