Beltsville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
272.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.36
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 Beltsville, your appliances are currently losing 18% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Beltsville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -39% |
| Washing Machine | 8.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -28% |
| Water Heater | 10.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -31% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Beltsville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Beltsville, Maryland | 133.5 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Calverton, Maryland | 97 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Greenbelt, Maryland | 169.5 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| College Park, Maryland | 183 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Fairland, Maryland | 184 mg/L | 10.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Beltsville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Beltsville | 133.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Beltsville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Beltsville, Maryland, in Prince George's County — an unincorporated Prince George's County community adjacent to College Park and Greenbelt in the north Washington DC suburbs — receives its municipal water from WSSC (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission), drawing from the Patuxent River (Rocky Gorge Reservoir and Duckett Reservoir, Prince George's County) through the WSSC Patuxent Water Filtration Plant.
The moderately hard 133.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 272.7 mg/L reflect the Prince George's County WSSC Patuxent supply's mixed Piedmont-Coastal Plain character. The Patuxent River at Rocky Gorge drains the Maryland Piedmont — Precambrian Baltimore Gneiss (insoluble crystalline), Cambrian Paruxent Formation (slightly calcareous), and the Cretaceous Patuxent Formation (Coastal Plain aquifer calcareous sand). The mixed crystalline Piedmont and Cretaceous calcareous Coastal Plain produces the moderately hard Prince George's supply.
At 133.5 mg/L, Beltsville's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 7.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (the primary local Beltsville PFAS source — federal research complex), the Washington DC north suburban corridor, and the Patuxent watershed PFAS background contribute to Beltsville's readings.
Geology & Source: Beltsville in Prince George's County draws from WSSC on the Patuxent River (Prince George's County, central Maryland) — the Patuxent drains the Maryland Piedmont (Precambrian Baltimore Gneiss, Cambrian Paruxent Formation — moderately crystalline) and Coastal Plain (Cretaceous Patuxent Formation) — Maryland Prince George's County Patuxent Piedmont-Coastal Plain watershed produces moderately hard water at 133.5 mg/L with TDS 272.7 mg/L.