Annapolis Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
124.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.22
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 Annapolis, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Annapolis | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -19% |
| Washing Machine | 10.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -12% |
| Water Heater | 12.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -18% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Annapolis compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Annapolis, Maryland | 81.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Parole, Maryland | 187.5 mg/L | 10.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Arnold, Maryland | 90 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Severna Park, Maryland | 145 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Lake Shore, Maryland | 84 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Annapolis compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Annapolis | 81.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Annapolis home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Annapolis's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel County seat and state capital — one of the most historically significant cities in America (the colonial capital of Maryland; site of the 1783 Treaty of Paris ratification by the Continental Congress; home of the United States Naval Academy — USNA, founded 1845), the 'Sailing Capital of the US' (Chesapeake Bay sailing hub), and a beautifully preserved 18th-century colonial capital with an exceptional historic district — draws its municipal water supply from the Patuxent River and Severn River system via the Anne Arundel County Water Supply Division. Water hardness in Annapolis measures 81.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Annapolis' moderate softness reflects the Anne Arundel County Maryland Coastal Plain supply characteristics. The Patuxent River and regional water sources drain: the Maryland Western Shore Coastal Plain (Cretaceous–Eocene calcareous-moderate sandy marine formations — the Potomac Group, Magothy Formation, and Nanjemoy Formation of the Maryland Coastal Plain, moderately calcareous marine sand); and the Maryland Piedmont (calcareous-poor crystalline terrain contributing to the Patuxent watershed). Anne Arundel County's treatment and the moderately calcareous Coastal Plain geology produce the moderate 81.5 mg/L.
With hardness at 81.5 mg/L, Annapolis residents enjoy moderately soft water. Anne Arundel County Water Supply Division consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Patuxent River (Baltimore–Washington Metro water supply) via the Anne Arundel County Water Supply Division — the Anne Arundel County Maryland Annapolis Severn River estuary (Cretaceous–Eocene Atlantic Coastal Plain calcareous-moderate sandy formations of the Maryland Western Shore); moderately soft supply at 81.5 mg/L in Anne Arundel County.