Benning Road Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.6 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
252.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.30
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 Benning Road, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Benning Road | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -31% |
| Washing Machine | 9.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -22% |
| Water Heater | 11.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -26% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Benning Road compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Benning Road, District of Columbia | 113 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Hillcrest, District of Columbia | 94 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Suitland, Maryland | 88 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Suitland-Silver Hill, Maryland | 140 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Walker Mill, Maryland | 183.5 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Benning Road compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Benning Road | 113 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Benning Road home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Benning Road's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Benning Road, District of Columbia, in Washington DC — a DC neighborhood adjacent to Deanwood and Capitol Heights in the east DC corridor — receives its water from DC Water, drawing from the Potomac River through the Washington DC distribution.
The moderately hard 113 mg/L hardness and TDS of 252.8 mg/L reflect the DC supply's moderate Potomac River character — the Cambrian Tomstown Formation contributes calcareous mineral content from the Shenandoah Valley limestone corridor, while the Precambrian Blue Ridge Basement provides insoluble dilution from the upper Potomac headwaters; DC Water treats and distributes consistent moderately hard Potomac supply throughout all DC neighborhoods (compare Deanwood DC: 110/245 in District of Columbia comparable; Capitol Heights MD: 115/260 in Prince George's County comparable; Benning Road consistent moderate from the same District of Columbia Potomac River Cambrian calcareous supply). The Potomac River at DC — Cambrian Tomstown Formation (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Precambrian Blue Ridge Basement (insoluble — primary dilutant), and Quaternary Potomac River alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 113 mg/L with TDS 253, Benning Road's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 7.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review DC Water's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Benning Road in District of Columbia draws from the DC Water on the Potomac River (District of Columbia, Washington DC) — the Potomac River at DC draws from Cambrian Tomstown Formation (calcareous) and Precambrian Blue Ridge Basement (insoluble) — District of Columbia Potomac River Cambrian calcareous supply produces moderately hard water at 113 mg/L with TDS 252.8 mg/L.