Fort Washington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
167.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.26
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 Fort Washington, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fort Washington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -26% |
| Washing Machine | 10 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -22% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fort Washington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fort Washington, Maryland | 98.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Fort Hunt, Virginia | 145 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Hybla Valley, Virginia | 93.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Mount Vernon, Virginia | 104.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Groveton, Virginia | 195 mg/L | 10.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Fort Washington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fort Washington | 98.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fort Washington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fort Washington, Maryland, in Prince George's County on the Potomac River south of Washington, DC — home to Fort Washington National Park and historic Fort Washington, one of the oldest still-standing forts in the US — receives its municipal water from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), which draws from the Patuxent Reservoir system (T. Howard Duckett Reservoir) and supplementary Potomac River supply as needed. Fort Washington's southern PG County position in WSSC's service area places it closer to the Patuxent-dominant supply zone.
The moderately soft 98.5 mg/L hardness and low TDS of 167.4 mg/L reflect the Patuxent Reservoir's Piedmont Province watershed character. The Patuxent River above the Duckett Reservoir drains the Maryland Piedmont — a terrane of Precambrian Grenville-age gneisses and schists, Wissahickon Formation micaceous schist, and associated metamorphic rocks — with very limited carbonate content. Precipitation draining through these ancient crystalline rock terrains picks up minimal calcium and magnesium, producing a soft-to-moderate finished water notably softer than WSSC's Potomac River-sourced supply in the northern parts of the service area.
At 98.5 mg/L, Fort Washington's water is moderately soft — one of the softer WSSC service area supplies. Scale forms slowly in kettles and appliances over many months, soap lathers well, and the dishwasher needs minimal rinse aid. Semi-annual descaling of heating appliances is adequate. The PFAS level of 5.2 ppt is moderate for a Prince George's County community — Fort Washington's residential character and proximity to the Potomac National Historical site zone keeps PFAS below the highest metro DC area levels.
Geology & Source: Fort Washington in Prince George's County is served by WSSC drawing from the Patuxent Reservoir (T. Howard Duckett Reservoir) — the Patuxent watershed drains the Piedmont Province over Precambrian metamorphic rocks with limited carbonate contact — Piedmont-dominant reservoir drainage produces moderately soft water at 98.5 mg/L in this southern PG County community.