Suitland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
140.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Suitland, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Suitland | 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 Suitland compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Suitland, Maryland | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Suitland-Silver Hill, Maryland | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Hillcrest, District of Columbia | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Hillcrest Heights, Maryland | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Benning Road, District of Columbia | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Suitland compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Suitland | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Suitland home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Suitland's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Suitland, Maryland is served by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water), supplying over 1.8 million customers across Prince George's and Montgomery counties. Water sources include the Potomac River, with intake at the Potomac Water Filtration Plant in Bethesda, and the Patuxent River at the Patuxent Water Filtration Plant in Laurel. Groundwater supplements the supply via wells in the Potomac Aquifer. Treatment occurs at three major facilities — the Potomac, Patuxent, and Washington Aqueduct (interconnected supply) plants — using coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
The supply originates in the Potomac River Basin watershed, spanning Appalachian foothills to the Coastal Plain. Water percolates through Triassic and Cretaceous sedimentary formations including the Newark Supergroup sands and Patuxent Formation sands and gravels. The Potomac Aquifer — a confined/unconfined system of Quaternary and Tertiary deposits overlying Cretaceous clays — picks up ions from limestone lenses, dolomitic marls, and shell deposits, imparting a moderately mineralised character. Surface water also carries ions from upstream shale-limestone sequences.
Hard water in this area promotes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers, where mineral deposits clog elements and valves. Maintenance includes annual heater flushing, vinegar descaling for appliances, and using hard-water detergents; a whole-home softener is recommended to prevent damage and improve soap efficiency. WSSC Water maintains pH 7.2–8.0 for corrosion control, with full lead/copper rule compliance (90th percentile copper below 1.3 mg/L, lead action level not exceeded). No PFAS violations reported in recent CCRs; disinfection byproduct monitoring includes TTHMs below 80 ppb, managed with ozone/chloramine treatment.
Geology & Source: Potomac River watershed and Coastal Plain aquifers — Cretaceous Patuxent Formation and Arundel Clay; limestone, dolomite, marl, and shell deposits dissolve calcium and magnesium into the Potomac Aquifer — moderately hard supply
Other Maryland Water Reports
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 Suitland's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Suitland?
How does Suitland compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Suitland is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.