How does Chillum's water compare to the national average?

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

Chillum Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

349.1 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 Chillum, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Chillum	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 Chillum compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Chillum, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Takoma Park, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Langley Park, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Kennedy Street, District of Columbia	126 mg/L	7.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Brightwood, District of Columbia	126 mg/L	9 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Chillum compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Chillum	≈ 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 Chillum's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 349.1 mg/LpH: 8

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) serves Chillum, an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, supplying treated drinking water to approximately 1.8 million people across Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Water originates from surface sources including the Potomac River and Patuxent River reservoirs such as the Patuxent Reservoir, supplemented by groundwater wells tapping local aquifers. Treatment occurs at major facilities including the Washington Aqueduct (for Potomac River water) and the Patuxent and WSSC treatment plants, involving filtration, disinfection, and chemical adjustment before distribution through extensive piping networks.

The supply is shaped by the Potomac River Watershed and adjacent Patuxent basin, with groundwater drawn from Coastal Plain aquifers of marine origin. These feature sedimentary layers of Cretaceous and Tertiary age rich in carbonate shells — calcite, aragonite, and magnesium calcite — and limestone formations from ancient marine environments. This geology dissolves significant calcium and magnesium into the water, yielding a hard supply. The limestone-dominated strata maintain a mineralised character without softening from siliceous or acidic rock influences, reflecting the region's depositional history.

Hard water promotes white scale formation on fixtures, kettles, and heating elements, reducing efficiency in water heaters by up to 20–30% over time and shortening appliance lifespan. Dishwashers, washing machines, coffee makers, and showerheads are most affected, with limescale clogging nozzles and valves. Regular vinegar descaling, scale-inhibiting filters, or detergent additives help mitigate issues. A water softener is recommended for households to protect appliances, improve soap efficiency, and protect skin and hair. WSSC Water reports pH 7.2–8.0, with PFAS monitoring below Maryland's MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS; treatment includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, chloramination, and fluoride addition, with full lead/copper rule adherence through corrosion control.

Geology & Source: Atlantic Coastal Plain Cretaceous and Tertiary sedimentary aquifers; carbonate shells of calcite, aragonite, and magnesium calcite plus limestone formations dissolve significant calcium and magnesium — characteristically hard groundwater

Other Maryland Water Reports

Takoma Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Langley Park

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Kennedy Street

126 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Brightwood

126 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chillum's water safe to drink?

Yes. Chillum'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 Chillum?

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

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