Colesville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.6 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
457.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.49
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 Colesville, your appliances are currently losing 24% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Colesville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -58% |
| Washing Machine | 6.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -43% |
| Water Heater | 8.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -45% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Colesville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Colesville, Maryland | 182 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Cloverly, Maryland | 177 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| White Oak, Maryland | 100 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Kemp Mill, Maryland | 183 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Fairland, Maryland | 184 mg/L | 10.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Colesville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Colesville | 182 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Colesville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Colesville, Maryland, in Montgomery County — an unincorporated Montgomery County community adjacent to Burnt Mills and White Oak in east-central Maryland near the Prince George's County border — receives its water from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), drawing from the Patuxent River and Potomac River (Montgomery County) through the Maryland suburban DC distribution.
The hard 182 mg/L hardness and TDS of 457.9 mg/L reflect the east Montgomery County WSSC supply's hard Potomac River calcareous character — consistent with other WSSC Montgomery County communities (Silver Spring: ~180 mg/L; Wheaton: ~182 mg/L). The Potomac River at the WSSC Little Falls and Potomac intakes drains the Shenandoah Valley and Virginia Blue Ridge — Cambrian Conococheague Formation (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Beekmantown Dolomite (calcareous-dolomitic — TDS contributor), and Precambrian Blue Ridge core (insoluble). The Valley and Blue Ridge calcareous input produces the hard WSSC Montgomery County supply.
At 182 mg/L, Colesville's water is hard — scale builds steadily in kettles and appliances, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and water heaters should be descaled annually. Monthly descaling is recommended. The PFAS level of 10.0 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Andrews Air Force Base (Prince George County — AFFF), Fort Meade (Anne Arundel County — AFFF), and the WSSC Maryland suburban corridor contribute to Colesville's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Colesville in Montgomery County draws from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) on the Patuxent River and Potomac River (Montgomery County, east Maryland) — the Potomac at Montgomery drains the Blue Ridge (Cambrian Conococheague calcareous) and Piedmont — Maryland Montgomery County WSSC Potomac River Blue Ridge-Piedmont calcareous watershed produces hard water at 182 mg/L with TDS 457.9 mg/L.