College Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
462.7 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 College Park, your appliances are currently losing 24% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In College Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -58% |
| Washing Machine | 6.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -43% |
| Water Heater | 8.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -45% |
Regional Water Comparison
How College Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ College Park, Maryland | 183 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Hyattsville, Maryland | 140.5 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| East Riverdale, Maryland | 153 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Adelphi, Maryland | 191.5 mg/L | 10.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Langley Park, Maryland | 89 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How College Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ College Park | 183 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes College Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
College Park, Maryland, in Prince George's County — a major north Prince George's County university city (College Park is home of the University of Maryland, College Park — the flagship university of the University of Maryland System and one of the major public research universities in the United States; the University of Maryland is a leading research institution with over 40,000 students and a major impact on the Maryland–DC corridor economy and culture), a diverse Prince George's County community with a significant international student, South Asian-American, Chinese-American, and federal research agency professional population (College Park is adjacent to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and multiple federal agencies), home of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (one of the largest space research centers in the world, a major employer in the College Park–Greenbelt corridor), and a major technology and research corridor community — draws its municipal water supply via the WSSC Water. Water hardness in College Park measures 183 mg/L — classified as very hard.
College Park's very hard supply — harder than many WSSC zones — reflects the northwest Prince George's County university corridor distribution characteristics. The WSSC distributes Patuxent–Potomac blend supply to the College Park zone via the northwest Prince George's County university area mains (a combination of 1940s–1960s campus development mains and post-war suburban expansion mains), producing the very hard 183 mg/L.
At 183 mg/L, College Park residents face significant hard water challenges. Regular water softeners and descaling are recommended. WSSC Water consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply via the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) — the Prince George's County north Maryland DC suburban College Park–University of Maryland corridor (WSSC Patuxent and Potomac River supply blend — the Prince George's County WSSC northwest distribution to College Park–University of Maryland zone; with distribution hardness); very hard supply at 183 mg/L in Prince George's County.