Saint Charles Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
520.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.52
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 Saint Charles, your appliances are currently losing 26% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Saint Charles | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -64% |
| Washing Machine | 6.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -48% |
| Water Heater | 7.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -48% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Saint Charles compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Saint Charles, Maryland | 196 mg/L | 10.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| St. Charles, Maryland | 138.5 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Waldorf, Maryland | 182 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Fort Washington, Maryland | 98.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Clinton, Maryland | 178 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Saint Charles compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Saint Charles | 196 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Saint Charles home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Saint Charles's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
St. Charles, Maryland, an unincorporated planned community in Charles County — a major south Maryland planned community (St. Charles is one of Maryland's largest planned communities — a New Town concept development initiated in the 1960s, covering large portions of suburban Charles County south of Washington DC), a rapidly growing Charles County community in the southern Maryland Potomac River corridor (Charles County has been one of Maryland's fastest-growing counties), a diverse Charles County community with a significant African-American and military professional population (adjacent to Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center and Joint Base Andrews area), and a major suburban community in the DC–Baltimore–St. Charles suburban corridor — draws its municipal water supply via the Charles County Department of Water and Sewer or WSSC Water. Water hardness in St. Charles measures 196 mg/L — classified as hard.
St. Charles's hard supply reflects the southern Maryland Coastal Plain geology and county distribution characteristics. The Charles County supply draws from the Miocene Calvert Formation and Chesapeake Group (calcareous marine marl and diatomite of the southern Maryland Coastal Plain) and the Cretaceous Potomac Group (calcareous-moderate clay and sand). The Charles County distribution infrastructure in the St. Charles planned community zone produces the hard 196 mg/L.
At 196 mg/L, St. Charles residents face regular hard water challenges. Monthly descaling with citric acid solution is recommended. Charles County Water and Sewer consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply via the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) and Southern Maryland connection — the Charles County south Maryland Potomac River corridor (Miocene calcareous Coastal Plain sediment and Cretaceous calcareous-moderate Potomac Group — the southern Maryland Coastal Plain calcareous Miocene–Cretaceous stratigraphy; WSSC or county supply distribution); hard supply at 196 mg/L in Charles County.