Walker Mill Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
464.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.49
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 Walker Mill, your appliances are currently losing 24% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Walker Mill | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -59% |
| Washing Machine | 6.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -43% |
| Water Heater | 8.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -45% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Walker Mill compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Walker Mill, Maryland | 183.5 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Forestville, Maryland | 95 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Summerfield, Maryland | 113 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Suitland, Maryland | 88 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Suitland-Silver Hill, Maryland | 140 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Walker Mill compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Walker Mill | 183.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Walker Mill home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Walker Mill's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Walker Mill, Maryland, in Prince George's County — a Prince George's County unincorporated community adjacent to Capitol Heights and District Heights in the southeast DC suburbs — receives its water from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), drawing from Triadelphia Reservoir and Rocky Gorge Reservoir on the Patuxent River through the central Maryland distribution.
The hard 183.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 464.2 mg/L are elevated for Prince George's County — the Precambrian Baltimore Gneiss provides insoluble dilution, but Cambrian Setters Formation calcareous metasediments and Triassic-Cretaceous formations in the Patuxent drainage contribute significant dissolved mineral content (compare Capitol Heights MD: 179/454 in Prince George's County comparable; District Heights MD: 187/474 in Prince George's County comparable; Walker Mill consistent hard from the same Prince George's County Patuxent River Precambrian-Cambrian calcareous supply). The Patuxent watershed — Precambrian Baltimore Gneiss (insoluble — primary dilutant), Cambrian Setters Formation (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Patuxent alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 183.5 mg/L with TDS 464, Walker Mill's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 10.0 ppt is very high — a certified filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended — the Prince George's County DC suburb military (Joint Base Andrews) and industrial sources contribute to Walker Mill's very elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Walker Mill in Prince George's County draws from the WSSC Water on Triadelphia Reservoir (Prince George's County, central Maryland) — the Patuxent watershed drains Precambrian Baltimore Gneiss (insoluble) and Cambrian Setters Formation (calcareous) — Maryland Prince George's County Patuxent River Precambrian-Cambrian calcareous supply produces hard water at 183.5 mg/L with TDS 464.2 mg/L.