Bel Air South Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
144.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.24
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 Bel Air South, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Bel Air South | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -22% |
| Washing Machine | 10.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -14% |
| Water Heater | 12 yrs | 15 yrs | -20% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Bel Air South compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bel Air South, Maryland | 90 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| South Bel Air, Maryland | 178.5 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| North Bel Air, Maryland | 134 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Bel Air North, Maryland | 89.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Edgewood, Maryland | 161.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Bel Air South compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bel Air South | 90 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Bel Air South's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Bel Air South, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Harford County — a major Harford County suburban community in the Bel Air area, part of the rapidly growing Bel Air metropolitan corridor, a primarily residential suburban community north of Baltimore with proximity to I-95 and the Baltimore–Philadelphia corridor — draws its municipal water supply from the Gunpowder Falls and Winters Run watersheds via the Harford County Department of Public Works Water Division. Water hardness in Bel Air South measures 90 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Bel Air South's moderate softness — softer than South Bel Air (178.5 mg/L) — reflects the different Harford County sub-basin characteristics in the Bel Air South supply zone. The Winters Run and upper Gunpowder Falls sub-basins serving Bel Air South drain the Harford County Piedmont (Wissahickon Formation schist and phyllite — calcareous-poor Piedmont metamorphic rock), primarily the calcareous-poor crystalline Harford County uplands. The Harford County Public Works distribution in the Bel Air South area is primarily newer infrastructure from the 1980s–2000s suburban expansion, accumulating less mineral content than the older South Bel Air zone, producing the moderate 90 mg/L.
With hardness at 90 mg/L, Bel Air South residents enjoy moderately soft water. Harford County Department of Public Works consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Gunpowder Falls watershed and the Winters Run sub-basin via the Harford County Department of Public Works Water Division — the Harford County Maryland Piedmont–Coastal Plain transition (Wissahickon Formation calcareous-poor schist and the Cretaceous Fall Zone calcareous-moderate terrain); moderately soft supply at 90 mg/L in Harford County.