Salisbury Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
232.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.32
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 Salisbury, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Salisbury | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -34% |
| Washing Machine | 9.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -24% |
| Water Heater | 10.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -29% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Salisbury compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Salisbury, Maryland | 121.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Cambridge, Maryland | 98.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Easton, Maryland | 155.5 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Dover, Delaware | 132 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Annapolis, Maryland | 81.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Salisbury compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Salisbury | 121.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Salisbury's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Salisbury, Maryland, the Wicomico County seat — a major Maryland Eastern Shore city (Salisbury is the Wicomico County seat and the largest city on the Maryland Eastern Shore — the commercial, medical, and educational hub of the Delmarva Peninsula, home of Salisbury University and a major regional medical center); home of Salisbury University (a comprehensive University of Maryland System university — a significant regional university serving the Delmarva Peninsula and coastal Maryland), a diverse Wicomico County community with a significant African-American, Hispanic-American, and Haitian-American population, home of a large poultry processing industry (the Salisbury area is in the heart of the Delmarva Peninsula poultry belt — one of the most concentrated poultry production regions in the United States, with major plants nearby), and the primary commercial and healthcare hub of Maryland's Eastern Shore — draws its municipal water supply from the Piney Point and Cheswold aquifer formations via the City of Salisbury Water Division. Water hardness in Salisbury measures 121.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Salisbury's moderate hardness reflects the Maryland Eastern Shore Coastal Plain aquifer geology. The Eocene Piney Point and Cheswold Formations at Salisbury–Wicomico County (calcareous-moderate shell marl and sandy limestone of the Maryland Coastal Plain) provide the primary water supply. City of Salisbury treatment produces the moderate 121.5 mg/L.
At 121.5 mg/L, Salisbury residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is recommended. City of Salisbury Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Pocomoke River and Salisbury Aquifer (Piney Point and Cheswold Formations) via the City of Salisbury Water Division — the Wicomico County Maryland Eastern Shore (Eocene calcareous-moderate Piney Point and Cheswold Formations — the calcareous-moderate Maryland Eastern Shore Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer; Wicomico County Eastern Shore aquifer supply); moderately hard supply at 121.5 mg/L in Wicomico County.