Leesburg Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The Town of Leesburg, Virginia, operates the Kenneth B. Rollins Water Filtration Plant, sourcing approximately 96% of its drinking water from the Potomac River and 4% from the Paxton Well groundwater supply. This serves Leesburg in Loudoun County, delivering water compliant with federal and state standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, enforced by the Virginia Department of Health. Loudoun Water, a regional authority, supplies adjacent areas from the Potomac River and Goose Creek, but Leesburg maintains its own separate utility. Household well owners in the area may test independently through programs such as the Loudoun County VCE offering.

The Potomac River watershed spans over 14,000 square miles, draining diverse geology from Appalachian shale and sandstone to Coastal Plain sediments. Upstream, the river erodes Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations, including limestone karsts that dissolve to impart calcium and magnesium minerals to the water. The Paxton Well accesses shallow Coastal Plain aquifers in unconsolidated Quaternary sands and gravels overlying older Tertiary formations, conducive to moderate mineralization. Together, this geological setting yields a hard supply character shaped by carbonate rock weathering before treatment.

Hard water in Leesburg promotes limescale buildup in pipes, heaters, and appliances, with water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines most noticeably affected; clogged fixtures can develop over time. Regular descaling, vinegar rinses for showerheads, and low-flow aerators help mitigate effects; a water softener is often recommended to extend appliance life and improve soap efficiency. Treatment at the Rollins Plant includes filtration achieving turbidity consistently below 0.1 NTU, disinfection, and fluoride adjustment to 0.7–1.2 ppm. Compliance is strong; bromodichloromethane has been detected above health guidelines in some reports but remains within legal limits.