Brentwood Village Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

5.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

228 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Brentwood Village, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Brentwood Village	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Brentwood Village compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Brentwood Village, District of Columbia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	9 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Union Market, District of Columbia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
H Street NE, District of Columbia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
NoMa, District of Columbia	119.84 mg/L	7.5 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
Northwest One, District of Columbia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Brentwood Village compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Brentwood Village	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Brentwood Village's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 228 mg/LpH: 5.6

Brentwood Village, in the District of Columbia, gets its water from DC Water. The utility draws from the Potomac River and several tributary reservoirs, namely Jennings Randolph Lake, Prettyboy Reservoir, and Liberty Reservoir, along with Rock Creek. These raw sources are treated at the Washington Aqueduct facilities, specifically the Dalecarlia and Potomac treatment plants. Here, the water undergoes a multi-stage process including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection before it reaches residents.

The watershed's geology is a mix of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and Piedmont metamorphic formations. Upstream, you'll find schists, gneisses, and quartzites. As the water flows downstream, it encounters carbonate-rich strata like the Ordovician Beekmantown Group limestones and dolomites. The natural weathering of these rocks releases calcium and magnesium ions, contributing to the water's moderately mineralized character and typical hardness for this region.

This moderately hard water can lead to slight scale buildup in appliances such as water heaters and dishwashers, potentially affecting their efficiency over time. You might also notice minor deposits on faucets and showerheads. To combat this, homeowners can perform semi-annual descaling with vinegar solutions and use detergent boosters for laundry. Installing a water softener is an option that could further minimize soap scum and prolong the life of plumbing and appliances, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Geology & Source: Potomac River watershed; Paleozoic sedimentary and Piedmont metamorphic rocks including limestone and dolomite impart moderate hardness

Other District of Columbia Water Reports

Union Market

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

H Street NE

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

NoMa

119.84 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Northwest One

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brentwood Village's water safe to drink?

Yes. Brentwood Village's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Brentwood Village?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Brentwood Village's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Brentwood Village compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Brentwood Village (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Brentwood Village is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.