Severn Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
305.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.38
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 Severn, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Severn | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -42% |
| Washing Machine | 8.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -31% |
| Water Heater | 9.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -34% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Severn compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Severn, Maryland | 143 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Odenton, Maryland | 159 mg/L | 8.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Hanover, Maryland | 193 mg/L | 10.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| South Gate, Maryland | 180 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Ferndale, Maryland | 196 mg/L | 10.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Severn compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Severn | 143 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Severn's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Severn, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Anne Arundel County — a major Anne Arundel County suburban community between Baltimore and Annapolis, home of a significant military community (adjacent to Fort Meade–NSA), a growing diverse community with a large African-American population, and one of Anne Arundel County's largest suburban communities in the Baltimore–Annapolis corridor — draws its municipal water supply from the Patuxent River via the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Utilities. Water hardness in Severn measures 143 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Severn's moderate hardness reflects the Anne Arundel County Patuxent watershed and the Bureau of Utilities distribution characteristics. The Patuxent River at the Anne Arundel County supply drains a mixed watershed including the Maryland Piedmont (Wissahickon Formation schist — calcareous-poor) and the Maryland Coastal Plain (Cretaceous Patuxent Formation — calcareous-moderate sand and clay). Anne Arundel County Bureau of Utilities distributes the treated Patuxent supply through the Severn area — the Severn zone's distribution infrastructure includes moderately aged mains from the 1960s–1990s Fort Meade corridor suburban buildout, accumulating moderate mineral content, producing the moderate 143 mg/L.
At 143 mg/L, Severn residents encounter moderate-to-hard scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is recommended for faucet aerators and showerheads. Anne Arundel County Bureau of Utilities consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Patuxent River (Patuxent Water Reclamation Facility) via the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Utilities — the Anne Arundel County Maryland Patuxent–Severn River watershed (Piedmont–Coastal Plain transition — calcareous-moderate Cretaceous Patuxent Formation and Wissahickon Formation schist); moderately hard supply at 143 mg/L in Anne Arundel County.