How does Scaggsville's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Scaggsville (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Scaggsville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.8

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

260.9 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Scaggsville, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Scaggsville	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Scaggsville compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Scaggsville, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Laurel, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	37 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Fairland, Maryland	≈ 120–179 mg/L	10.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
South Laurel, Maryland	180.5 mg/L	9.9 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Calverton, Maryland	≈ 180+ mg/L	5.1 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Scaggsville compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Scaggsville	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Scaggsville's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 260.9 mg/LpH: 7.8

Scaggsville is an unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, served by the Howard County Department of Public Works (DPW) Bureau of Utilities. The water supply draws from both surface water sources — including the Patuxent River system — and groundwater aquifers. Howard County conducts regular testing at over 150 locations throughout its distribution system to ensure compliance with all state and federal drinking water standards.

The Scaggsville area sits within the Patuxent River watershed in Maryland's Piedmont physiographic province, underlain by metamorphic bedrock and Coastal Plain sediments rich in calcium and magnesium minerals. As groundwater percolates through these formations, dissolved mineral content increases, contributing to the hard water character typical of central Maryland. The local hydrogeology naturally produces a hard supply.

Hard water in this region causes mineral buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and increasing maintenance needs. Residents may notice soap scum, staining on fixtures, and reduced lather. A water softener is recommended, particularly for laundry and dishwashing applications. The Howard County Department of Public Works maintains compliance with EPA Action Levels for lead (0.015 mg/L) and copper (1.3 mg/L); annual Consumer Confidence Reports with full contaminant data are available through the county's public works website.

Geology & Source: Piedmont province; metamorphic bedrock and Coastal Plain sediments in the Patuxent River watershed — calcium and magnesium-rich minerals dissolve into groundwater; hard supply typical of central Maryland

Other Maryland Water Reports

Laurel

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Fairland

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

South Laurel

180.5 mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Calverton

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Scaggsville's water safe to drink?

Yes. Scaggsville's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Scaggsville?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Scaggsville's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Scaggsville compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Scaggsville (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Scaggsville is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.