Oxon Hill Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
438.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.47
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 Oxon Hill, your appliances are currently losing 24% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Oxon Hill | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -56% |
| Washing Machine | 7 yrs | 12 yrs | -42% |
| Water Heater | 8.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -43% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Oxon Hill compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Oxon Hill, Maryland | 177.5 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Oxon Hill-Glassmanor, Maryland | 110 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Glassmanor, Maryland | 137 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Hillcrest Heights, Maryland | 105.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Alexandria, Virginia | 178.5 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Oxon Hill compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Oxon Hill | 177.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Oxon Hill's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Oxon Hill, Maryland, in Prince George's County — an unincorporated Prince George's County community adjacent to Camp Springs and Fort Washington on the Potomac River in the south Prince George's County corridor — receives its municipal water from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), drawing from the Potomac River at the Potomac Water Filtration Plant (Montgomery County).
The hard 177.5 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 438.9 mg/L are harder than the WSSC Patuxent supply (Calverton: 97 mg/L), reflecting the Potomac River Appalachian carbonate character. The Potomac drains the Virginia-Maryland Appalachian Ridge-and-Valley — Cambrian Conococheague Limestone, Ordovician Beekmantown Dolomite (major regional carbonate contributors), Silurian Tuscarora Sandstone (insoluble), and the Shenandoah Valley (Ordovician Edinburg Limestone — very high calcium loading). The Shenandoah River tributary delivers exceptionally calcareous water to the Potomac at Harpers Ferry, significantly raising the Potomac's hardness.
At 177.5 mg/L, Oxon Hill's water is hard — scale builds steadily in kettles and appliances, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and water heaters should be descaled annually. Monthly descaling is recommended. The PFAS level of 9.7 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Andrews Air Force Base (Prince George's County — AFFF in the Potomac watershed), the Washington DC industrial corridor, and the Maryland-Virginia PFAS complex contribute to Oxon Hill's very elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Oxon Hill in Prince George's County draws from Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission on the Potomac River (Prince George's County, Maryland) — the Potomac drains the Virginia-Maryland Appalachians (Cambrian Conococheague Limestone, Ordovician Edinburg Limestone, Shenandoah Valley calcareous) — Maryland Potomac River Appalachian carbonate watershed produces hard water at 177.5 mg/L with TDS 438.9 mg/L in this Prince George's County Maryland community.