North Bethesda Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
274.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.36
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 North Bethesda, your appliances are currently losing 18% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In North Bethesda | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -39% |
| Washing Machine | 8.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -28% |
| Water Heater | 10.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -32% |
Regional Water Comparison
How North Bethesda compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ North Bethesda, Maryland | 134 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Rockville, Maryland | 169.5 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Aspen Hill, Maryland | 95.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Wheaton, Maryland | 95 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Bethesda, Maryland | 145 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How North Bethesda compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ North Bethesda | 134 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes North Bethesda's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
North Bethesda, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Montgomery County — a major Montgomery County suburban and commercial hub, home of the Pike and Rose mixed-use development, White Flint Mall corridor redevelopment, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus vicinity, and a dense, walkable transit-oriented development corridor along the WMATA Red Line White Flint and Twinbrook stations — draws its municipal water supply from the Potomac River via the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water). Water hardness in North Bethesda measures 134 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
North Bethesda's moderate hardness — harder than Bethesda (95 mg/L) and similar to Potomac (113.5 mg/L) — reflects the WSSC Water distribution characteristics in the north Bethesda corridor. North Bethesda's distribution infrastructure serves one of Montgomery County's most densely developed commercial corridors, including the White Flint–Rockville Pike zone. The distribution mains in the North Bethesda area include a mix of infrastructure ages from the 1950s–2010s development timeline of the Rockville Pike corridor, accumulating moderate mineral content from the Potomac River supply, producing the moderate 134 mg/L at North Bethesda.
At 134 mg/L, North Bethesda residents encounter moderate-to-hard scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is recommended for faucet aerators and showerheads. WSSC Water consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Potomac River (Potomac Water Filtration Plant) via the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) — the Montgomery County Maryland north Bethesda corridor (Piedmont Wissahickon Formation calcareous-poor schist + Potomac River supply); moderately hard supply at 134 mg/L in Montgomery County.