Suitland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Suitland, Maryland, in Prince George's County, receives its municipal water from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water), one of the largest water and sewer utilities in the eastern United States. WSSC draws from two primary surface water sources: the Patuxent River, stored at Brighton Dam and Triadelphia Reservoirs in Howard and Montgomery counties, and the Potomac River, drawn via intake near the Little Falls Pumping Station. Both sources undergo treatment at the Potomac Water Filtration Plant and Parkway Water Filtration Plant before distribution to Suitland and surrounding Prince George's County communities.

The moderate hardness of 88 mg/L reflects the composite character of WSSC's blended supply. The Patuxent River drains the Maryland Piedmont — a region of metamorphic gneisses, schists, and felsic intrusive rocks that release limited calcium and magnesium into runoff. The Potomac River contributes slightly harder water from a broader catchment that includes carbonate-bearing Valley and Ridge formations in western Maryland and Virginia. Blending the two sources at treatment and in the distribution network produces a consistently moderate hardness profile across the service territory.

At 88 mg/L, Suitland's water is in the moderately soft range — a comfortable level for most household uses. Soap lathers well, there is minimal film on dishes from the dishwasher, and appliances build scale gradually rather than aggressively. Light limescale deposits may form inside kettles and on showerheads over several months of continuous use. Descaling every six months is typically sufficient, and no whole-house water softener is needed for most households. Residents may wish to use a certified drinking water filter given the area's PFAS monitoring context and proximity to Washington's dense urban infrastructure.