Baileys Crossroads Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

205.5 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Baileys Crossroads, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Baileys Crossroads	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 Baileys Crossroads compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Baileys Crossroads, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Lincolnia, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Arlington, Virginia	≈ 60–120 mg/L	11 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
Falls Church, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
West Falls Church, Virginia	≈ 0–60 mg/L	6.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Baileys Crossroads compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Baileys Crossroads	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Baileys Crossroads's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 205.5 mg/LpH: 7.7

Baileys Crossroads is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, where drinking water is provided by Fairfax Water, the regional public water authority serving the county and surrounding jurisdictions. Fairfax Water draws its supply from two principal sources: the Occoquan Reservoir, fed by the Bull Run watershed in northern Virginia, and the Potomac River, which provides supplementary seasonal supply. Both sources are treated at Fairfax Water facilities before distribution to Baileys Crossroads and other communities throughout Fairfax County.

The Occoquan Reservoir watershed drains the Virginia Piedmont Province, underlain by Precambrian metamorphic rocks. These ancient crystalline rocks are low in soluble carbonate minerals, so water moving through this terrain acquires only moderate concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium. The combination of Piedmont reservoir drainage and seasonal Potomac River supply produces moderately soft water characteristic of the region.

Moderately soft water means scale buildup on fixtures, kettles, and appliances develops slowly and is modest in severity. Soap and detergent efficiency is generally good; a water softener is not universally necessary but may benefit households with older plumbing or tank-style water heaters. Regular descaling of appliances helps mitigate minor mineral accumulation. Residents seeking detailed water quality data — including pH, lead, copper, and PFAS levels — should consult the most recent Consumer Confidence Report from Fairfax Water.

Geology & Source: Fairfax Water draws from Occoquan Reservoir (Bull Run watershed) and Potomac River — Virginia Piedmont Province Precambrian metamorphic rocks; low carbonate geology produces moderately soft water

Other Virginia Water Reports

Lincolnia

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Arlington

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Falls Church

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

West Falls Church

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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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 Baileys Crossroads's water safe to drink?

Yes. Baileys Crossroads's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Baileys Crossroads?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Baileys Crossroads's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Baileys Crossroads compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Baileys Crossroads (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Baileys Crossroads is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

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.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

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.

Measured

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.

Modelled

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.

Calculated

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.