How does Camp Springs's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Camp Springs (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Camp Springs Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

179.5 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 Camp Springs, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Camp Springs	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 Camp Springs compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Camp Springs, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Clinton, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	9.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Suitland-Silver Hill, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Suitland, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Forestville, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Camp Springs compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Camp Springs	≈ 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 Camp Springs's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 179.5 mg/LpH: 7.6

WSSC Water (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission) serves Camp Springs in Prince George's County, Maryland, providing water to over 1.8 million people in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. The supply is mixed, drawn primarily from the Potomac River (70%) via the Washington Aqueduct and from the Patuxent River (30%) via the Patuxent and Brighton treatment plants. Raw water is treated at these facilities with coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection before distribution through an extensive pipeline network.

The Potomac and Patuxent watersheds span the Piedmont and Coastal Plain physiographic provinces, with bedrock of schist, gneiss, and sedimentary sands from the Cretaceous Patapsco and Arundel formations. The confined Patuxent Aquifer supplies supplemental groundwater, recharged through permeable sands over clay confining layers. Contact with carbonate-rich sediments imparts a moderately mineralised character to the supply, yielding harder water compared to granitic upland sources.

Moderately hard water promotes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Laundry may require more detergent and soap lather forms poorly. Annual flushing of water heaters, vinegar descaling of appliances, and hard-water detergents help mitigate effects; a water softener is recommended for households noticing spotting on glassware or dry skin. WSSC Water maintains pH around 7.5–8.5; treatment involves chloramination, GAC filtration, and orthophosphate for lead control, with no detectable PFAS exceedances in recent tests.

Geology & Source: Patuxent River watershed and Potomac River aquifers — Cretaceous Patapsco Aquifer and Patuxent Formation sands and gravels with carbonate-bearing layers; Coastal Plain geology with limestone traces produces hard supply

Other Maryland Water Reports

Clinton

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Suitland-Silver Hill

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Suitland

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Forestville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Camp Springs's water safe to drink?

Yes. Camp Springs'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 Camp Springs?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Camp Springs'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 Camp Springs compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Camp Springs (≈ 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 Camp Springs 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.