Lanham-Seabrook Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Lanham-Seabrook, Maryland is served by Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Water, which draws from the Potomac River reservoir system. The utility supplies inner Prince George's County communities through the Potomac River supply zone, treating water at regional plants before distribution to residential and commercial customers in the Lanham-Seabrook area. WSSC Water conducts over 500,000 water quality tests annually to ensure comprehensive compliance with all federal and state drinking water regulations, operating as one of the most actively monitored water systems in the mid-Atlantic region.

The water supply originates from the Potomac River watershed, flowing through the Atlantic Coastal Plain of Maryland. The underlying geology consists of Cretaceous and Tertiary marine sediments rich in calcium carbonate, including weathered shell deposits of calcite and aragonite and magnesium calcite. This carbonate-rich Coastal Plain geology is the primary source of the region's hard water character, as the Potomac River's flow through these formations dissolves significant quantities of hardness-producing calcium and magnesium minerals.

At the hard classification level, Lanham-Seabrook residents experience noticeable limescale buildup on kettles, showerheads, and inside water heaters and washing machines. Dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators require periodic cleaning to maintain flow. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance life and reduce energy waste by up to 17%. Testing shows a pH of 7.8, lead at 0.004 mg/L (well below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L), and total dissolved solids of 257.8 mg/L; the hardness poses no health risk, though it affects appliance performance and water taste.