Greater Upper Marlboro Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
233.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.32
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 Greater Upper Marlboro, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Greater Upper Marlboro | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -34% |
| Washing Machine | 9.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -24% |
| Water Heater | 10.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -29% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Greater Upper Marlboro compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland | 121.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Kettering, Maryland | 190 mg/L | 10.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Bowie, Maryland | 172 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Forestville, Maryland | 95 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Camp Springs, Maryland | 103 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Greater Upper Marlboro compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Greater Upper Marlboro | 121.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Greater Upper Marlboro's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland, in Prince George's County — a Prince George's County unincorporated community at the county seat adjacent to Bowie and Largo, in the central Prince George's County corridor — receives its municipal water from WSSC Water (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission), drawing from the Patuxent River supply at Rocky Gorge and Triadelphia Reservoirs.
The moderately hard 121.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 233.7 mg/L are somewhat harder than the Langley Park WSSC reading (89 mg/L, TDS 143), suggesting that the Greater Upper Marlboro distribution zone accesses a greater Potomac blend or a more mineralized section of the WSSC supply network. WSSC serves much of Prince George's and Montgomery Counties from the same Patuxent-Potomac blended supply, but distribution zone and seasonal blending ratios produce variation across the service area.
At 121.5 mg/L, Greater Upper Marlboro's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Joint Base Andrews (Prince George's County — a major documented AFFF PFAS source in the Patuxent watershed), the NASA Goddard facility, and the Prince George's County industrial corridor contribute to Greater Upper Marlboro's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Greater Upper Marlboro in Prince George's County draws from WSSC Water on the Patuxent River (Rocky Gorge Reservoir, Prince George's-Montgomery County) — the Patuxent drains the Piedmont (Precambrian Wissahickon Schist) and the Coastal Plain (Cretaceous Patuxent Formation) — Maryland WSSC Piedmont-Coastal Plain watershed produces moderately hard water at 121.5 mg/L with TDS 234 mg/L in this Prince George's County Maryland community.