Edgewood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Edgewood, Maryland, in Harford County northeast of Baltimore along the upper Chesapeake Bay corridor, receives its municipal water from the Harford County Department of Public Works, which draws from the Susquehanna River via the Conowingo Reservoir — the lowest of four hydroelectric reservoirs on the lower Susquehanna built by Exelon. Harford County operates a water intake and treatment facility on the Conowingo Pool, processing Susquehanna River water before distributing it through the county transmission system to Edgewood and surrounding communities.

The hard 161.5 mg/L hardness reflects the Susquehanna River's extensive drainage of Appalachian Plateau and Valley and Ridge carbonate terrain in Pennsylvania. The river's headwaters and tributaries — including the West Branch, Juniata River, and Conestoga River — flow over thick sequences of Ordovician Beekmantown Dolomite, Cambrian Conococheague Limestone, and Cambrian Elbrook Formation carbonates, dissolving calcium and magnesium bicarbonates throughout the catchment. The Conowingo Reservoir provides some settling and blending but does not substantially reduce dissolved mineral hardness.

At 161.5 mg/L, Edgewood residents experience hard water with consistent scaling effects throughout the home. Kettles and water heaters accumulate white deposits steadily, glassware from the dishwasher shows mineral film, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium rings over time. The elevated PFAS of 8.8 ppt is also a concern, reflecting the Susquehanna basin's industrial and agricultural history. Descaling appliances every two to three months addresses the mineral buildup, and a certified reverse osmosis drinking filter is advisable for both PFAS reduction and improved water taste in this hardness range.