Wheaton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.5 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
158.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.25
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 Wheaton, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Wheaton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -24% |
| Washing Machine | 10.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -16% |
| Water Heater | 11.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -21% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Wheaton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wheaton, Maryland | 95 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Glenmont, Maryland | 142.5 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Kemp Mill, Maryland | 183 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Aspen Hill, Maryland | 95.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Silver Spring, Maryland | 162 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Wheaton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wheaton | 95 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Wheaton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Wheaton, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Montgomery County — a diverse Montgomery County inner suburb adjacent to Silver Spring, known as one of the most ethnically diverse communities in Maryland (significant Salvadoran-American, Korean-American, Bolivian-American, and African-American populations), anchored by Wheaton Regional Park and the Wheaton Metro station on the Red Line — draws its municipal water supply from the Potomac River via the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC). Water hardness in Wheaton measures 95 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Wheaton's moderate softness — essentially the same as neighboring Aspen Hill (95.5 mg/L) — reflects the WSSC Potomac supply in the Montgomery County northeast distribution zone. The WSSC applies advanced treatment at its Potomac and Patuxent Water Filtration Plants, distributing the moderate Potomac River supply throughout Montgomery County. The Wheaton distribution infrastructure — an inner suburban community with some older post-war mains — produces the moderate 95 mg/L characteristic of the Montgomery County WSSC distribution system.
With hardness at 95 mg/L, Wheaton residents enjoy moderately soft water with minimal scale challenges. WSSC consistently delivers water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Potomac River via the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) — the Montgomery County Maryland upper Potomac River corridor (Catoctin Formation and Piedmont crystalline terrain watershed) at the Wheaton–Silver Spring northeast Montgomery County corridor; moderately soft supply at 95 mg/L in Montgomery County.