Dundalk Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.5 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
315.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.39
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 Dundalk, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Dundalk | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -44% |
| Washing Machine | 8.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -32% |
| Water Heater | 9.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -35% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Dundalk compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dundalk, Maryland | 146 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Canton, Maryland | 105 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Rosedale, Maryland | 179.5 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Essex, Maryland | 177.5 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Frankford, Maryland | 87.5 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Dundalk compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dundalk | 146 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Dundalk's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Dundalk, Maryland, an unincorporated community in east Baltimore County adjacent to Baltimore's east side — historically a major steel and shipbuilding community (site of Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point plant, one of the world's largest steel plants) — draws its municipal water supply from Loch Raven Reservoir and Prettyboy Reservoir (Gunpowder Falls watershed) via the Baltimore City Department of Public Works Water Bureau, treating Piedmont reservoir water for Baltimore City and Baltimore County communities including Dundalk. Water hardness in Dundalk measures 146 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Dundalk's moderate hardness reflects the Loch Raven–Prettyboy reservoir watershed's geology and the east Baltimore County distribution infrastructure. The Gunpowder Falls–Loch Raven watershed drains the Maryland Piedmont — the Precambrian–Ordovician Glenarm Group (phyllite, schist, quartzite — calcium-poor), the Triassic Newark Group (Triassic calcareous red shale and argillite — significant calcium contribution in the Triassic Gettysburg Basin extension into Maryland), and the Precambrian Hagerstown Valley carbonate sequence of the upper watershed. The Dundalk distribution zone in east Baltimore County includes substantial older industrial-era infrastructure from the 1920s–1950s Bethlehem Steel industrial build-out, contributing moderate mineral accumulation in the aged cast-iron mains.
At 146 mg/L, Dundalk residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. Baltimore City Department of Public Works Water Bureau consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Patapsco River (Loch Raven and Prettyboy Reservoirs) via the Baltimore City Department of Public Works Water Bureau Dundalk distribution — the Maryland Piedmont Gunpowder Falls–Loch Raven Reservoir watershed (Precambrian–Ordovician Piedmont crystalline and Triassic Newark Group calcareous red shale) of Baltimore County; moderately hard supply at 146 mg/L in east Baltimore County.