Glen Burnie Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
289 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.37
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 Glen Burnie, your appliances are currently losing 18% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Glen Burnie | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -41% |
| Washing Machine | 8.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -29% |
| Water Heater | 10.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -33% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Glen Burnie compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Glen Burnie, Maryland | 138.5 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Ferndale, Maryland | 196 mg/L | 10.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| South Gate, Maryland | 180 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Brooklyn Park, Maryland | 193 mg/L | 10.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Pasadena, Maryland | 189 mg/L | 10.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Glen Burnie compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Glen Burnie | 138.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Glen Burnie's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Glen Burnie, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Anne Arundel County adjacent to BWI Airport south of Baltimore — one of Maryland's largest unincorporated communities and a major South Baltimore suburban hub — draws its municipal water supply from the Patapsco Aquifer (Cretaceous Patapsco Formation) via the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Utilities, accessing the Maryland Coastal Plain groundwater in the Cretaceous Potomac Group formations beneath Anne Arundel County. Water hardness in Glen Burnie measures 138.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Glen Burnie's moderate hardness reflects the Anne Arundel County Coastal Plain Cretaceous aquifer system. The Patapsco Formation (Cretaceous — a fluvial and coastal plain sand and clay deposit of the Potomac Group) beneath Anne Arundel County contains calcareous clay interbeds, minor limestone lenses, and some shell-bearing sand units from the Cretaceous marine environment. The overlying Magothy Formation (Cretaceous sandy aquifer) also contributes some mineral content. Anne Arundel County's Coastal Plain aquifer is in the zone between the hard groundwater of Prince George's County (southeastern) and the softer groundwater of Baltimore City's surface water supply, producing the moderate 138.5 mg/L characteristic of north Anne Arundel County Coastal Plain wells.
At 138.5 mg/L, Glen Burnie residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. Anne Arundel County Bureau of Utilities consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Patapsco Aquifer (Cretaceous Patapsco Formation) via the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Utilities — the Maryland Coastal Plain Cretaceous Patuxent and Patapsco Formations (quartz sand with calcareous clay interbeds) of Anne Arundel County; moderately hard supply at 138.5 mg/L in Anne Arundel County.