Maryland City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
372.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.43
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 Maryland City, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Maryland City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -49% |
| Washing Machine | 7.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -37% |
| Water Heater | 9.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -39% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Maryland City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Maryland City, Maryland | 161 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Laurel, Maryland | 91.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| South Laurel, Maryland | 180.5 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Scaggsville, Maryland | 130 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Glenn Dale, Maryland | 143 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Maryland City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Maryland City | 161 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Maryland City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Maryland City, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County — an unincorporated Anne Arundel County community adjacent to Laurel and Fort Meade in central Maryland between Washington and Baltimore — receives its municipal water from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), drawing from the Patuxent River (T. Howard Duckett Reservoir, Anne Arundel County) through the WSSC treatment system.
The moderately hard 161 mg/L hardness and TDS of 372.1 mg/L (elevated TDS relative to hardness — suggesting additional mineral loading) reflect the central Maryland Patuxent River supply's mixed Piedmont-Triassic calcareous character. The Patuxent River drains the Maryland Piedmont — Precambrian Glenarm Group Gneiss (moderately insoluble), Triassic Balls Bluff Siltstone (calcareous redbeds — primary hardness contributor), and the Patuxent Formation (calcareous). The Triassic calcareous input produces the moderately hard central Maryland supply.
At 161 mg/L, Maryland City'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 8.8 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Fort Meade (Anne Arundel County — AFFF, the dominant central Maryland PFAS source) and the Washington-Baltimore metro PFAS complex contribute to Maryland City's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Maryland City in Anne Arundel County draws from the WSSC on the Patuxent River (Anne Arundel County, central Maryland) — the Patuxent drains the Maryland Piedmont (Precambrian Glenarm Gneiss, Triassic Balls Bluff calcareous redbeds) — Maryland Anne Arundel County Patuxent River Piedmont-Triassic calcareous watershed produces moderately hard water at 161 mg/L with TDS 372.1 mg/L in this Anne Arundel County Maryland community.