Ocean Pines Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
360 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.42
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 Ocean Pines, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Ocean Pines | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -48% |
| Washing Machine | 7.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -36% |
| Water Heater | 9.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -38% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Ocean Pines compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ocean Pines, Maryland | 158.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Salisbury, Maryland | 121.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Milford, Delaware | 71 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Dover, Delaware | 132 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Cambridge, Maryland | 98.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Ocean Pines compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ocean Pines | 158.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Ocean Pines's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Ocean Pines, Maryland, in Worcester County — a Worcester County planned community adjacent to Berlin and Ocean City on Maryland's Eastern Shore — receives its water from the Worcester County Utilities or Ocean Pines Community Water, drawing from local aquifer wells through the coastal Maryland distribution.
The hard 158.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 360 mg/L reflect the Worcester County Coastal Plain supply's hard character — the Cretaceous Raritan Formation is largely insoluble but the Tertiary Chesapeake Group calcareous marine sediments and Miocene Pocomoke Formation deposits contribute dissolved calcium and magnesium to the shallow Delmarva Peninsula water table (compare Berlin MD: 156/354 in Worcester County comparable; Ocean City MD: 161/366 in Worcester County comparable; Ocean Pines consistent hard from the same Worcester County coastal plain Cretaceous-Tertiary supply). The Pocomoke River aquifer at Worcester County — Cretaceous Raritan Formation (insoluble — dilutant), Tertiary Chesapeake Group (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Holocene Coastal Plain alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 158.5 mg/L with TDS 360, Ocean Pines' water is hard — scale builds in appliances and fixtures. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 8.5 ppt is elevated — a certified drinking water filter is recommended — the Worcester County Eastern Shore agricultural and military (Salisbury area) sources contribute to Ocean Pines' elevated PFAS readings. Review the utility's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Ocean Pines in Worcester County draws from the Worcester County Water on the Pocomoke River aquifer (Worcester County, coastal Maryland) — the Maryland coastal plain at Worcester County is developed in Cretaceous Raritan Formation (insoluble) and Tertiary Chesapeake Group (calcareous) — Maryland Worcester County coastal plain Cretaceous-Tertiary supply produces hard water at 158.5 mg/L with TDS 360 mg/L.