Two water districts
Most of Grafton gets its water from the Grafton Water District, which is separate from town government. It pumps from five wells, on Worcester Street, East Street, Follette Street and Trinity Avenue. South Grafton has a water district of its own.
The district's report does not print a hardness number. Its office is at 44 Millbury Street, 508-839-2302, open weekdays 8 to 4. Ask for the hardness, and if the answer is over 120 milligrams per liter, flush the tank every six months. Why.
The housing
Grafton has about 7,800 housing units, and 78 percent are single-family. The median home was built in 1977. About half the town heats with gas and 30 percent with oil.
A house from the late 1970s is usually on its third or fourth water heater. How to read the age off the label.
Gas and rebates
Eversource is the gas company. For a gas smell, leave and call 911, then Eversource at 800-592-2000. National Grid supplies the electricity, so Mass Save's 2026 rebate of $750 on a heat pump water heater applies.