White Oak Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
171.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.27
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 White Oak, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In White Oak | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -26% |
| Washing Machine | 9.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How White Oak compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ White Oak, Maryland | 100 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Kemp Mill, Maryland | 183 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Colesville, Maryland | 182 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Adelphi, Maryland | 191.5 mg/L | 10.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Fairland, Maryland | 184 mg/L | 10.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How White Oak compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ White Oak | 100 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes White Oak's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
White Oak, Maryland, in Montgomery County — an unincorporated Montgomery County community adjacent to Silver Spring and Colesville in the east Montgomery County corridor — receives its municipal water from WSSC Water (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission), drawing from the Patuxent River and Potomac River (Montgomery County) through the WSSC Potomac WFP or Patuxent WFP.
The moderately soft 100 mg/L hardness and TDS of 171.4 mg/L reflect the WSSC combined Potomac-Patuxent supply's Maryland Piedmont character. The Patuxent River drains the Maryland Piedmont — Ordovician Sykesville Formation (slightly calcareous metamorphic), the Precambrian Glenarm Series (insoluble crystalline schist), and the Mesoproterozoic Baltimore Gneiss (insoluble). The Potomac River brings additional Appalachian carbonate input, producing the moderately soft blended supply.
At 100 mg/L, White Oak's water is moderately soft — light scale forms slowly in appliances, dishwashers remain efficient, and bathroom fixtures need occasional cleaning. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.3 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the White Oak Federal Research Center (FDA campus — White Oak), the Montgomery County suburban corridor, and the Potomac River mid-Atlantic PFAS complex contribute to White Oak's readings.
Geology & Source: White Oak in Montgomery County draws from WSSC Water on the Patuxent River or Potomac River (Montgomery County, Maryland) — the Patuxent drains the Maryland Piedmont (Ordovician Sykesville Formation, Precambrian Glenarm Series — insoluble crystalline) — Maryland Montgomery County Patuxent River Precambrian-Ordovician crystalline watershed produces moderately soft water at 100 mg/L with TDS 171.4 mg/L in this Montgomery County Maryland community.