Parkville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.9 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
477.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.50
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 Parkville, your appliances are currently losing 25% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Parkville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -60% |
| Washing Machine | 6.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -44% |
| Water Heater | 8.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -46% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Parkville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Parkville, Maryland | 186.5 mg/L | 10.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Carney, Maryland | 109.5 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Frankford, Maryland | 87.5 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Rosedale, Maryland | 179.5 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Towson, Maryland | 134 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Parkville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Parkville | 186.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Parkville home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Parkville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Parkville, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Baltimore County — a major northeast Baltimore County suburban community (Parkville is a significant unincorporated Baltimore County community along Harford Road and the I-695 Baltimore Beltway northeast corridor — one of the classic 1950s–1970s post-WWII northeast Baltimore suburban communities; Parkville is known as a primarily working-class and middle-class Baltimore County suburb with a significant sports tradition (Parkville High School and Overlea High School have major sports rivalries in the northeast Baltimore County public school athletic community)), a diverse Baltimore County community with a significant Irish-American, Polish-American, African-American, and working-class heritage population, adjacent to Carney and Overlea in the northeast Baltimore County corridor, home of a significant northeast Baltimore County retail corridor along Harford Road and Taylor Avenue, and one of the established northeast Baltimore County suburban communities — draws its municipal water supply via the Baltimore City DPW. Water hardness in Parkville measures 186.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
Parkville's hard supply — harder than west Baltimore County suburbs — reflects the northeast Baltimore County distribution zone's older infrastructure. The BCDPW distributes Loch Raven Reservoir supply through the northeast Baltimore County Parkville zone (primarily 1950s–1970s suburban development mains), producing the hard 186.5 mg/L.
At 186.5 mg/L, Parkville residents face regular hard water challenges. Monthly descaling and water softeners are recommended. Baltimore City DPW consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Loch Raven Reservoir (Gunpowder River watershed) via the Baltimore City DPW — the Baltimore County northeast suburban Parkville corridor (Precambrian calcareous-poor Maryland Piedmont gneiss — the BCDPW northeast Baltimore County distribution to Parkville zone; limited softening); hard supply at 186.5 mg/L in Baltimore County.