How does Rose Hill's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Rose Hill (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Rose Hill Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

458.2 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 Rose Hill, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Rose Hill	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 Rose Hill compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Rose Hill, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	9.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Franconia, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	10.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Groveton, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	10.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Huntington, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Lincolnia, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Rose Hill compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Rose Hill	≈ 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 Rose Hill's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 458.2 mg/LpH: 8.2

Rose Hill, an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, is served by Fairfax Water, the regional utility for Northern Virginia. Fairfax Water draws supply from the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir, supplemented by groundwater from Potomac aquifers. Treatment is carried out at the Corbalis Treatment Plant on the Potomac and the Griffith Treatment Plant on the Occoquan, collectively serving over 1.8 million people across Fairfax County and adjacent areas. Rose Hill receives water through this extensive distribution network.

The Potomac River watershed spans 14,000 square miles, draining Appalachian highlands through the Piedmont and Coastal Plain into Chesapeake Bay. Geology transitions from metamorphic and igneous rocks in the upper basin to sedimentary layers downstream, with Cretaceous Potomac Formation sands and clays hosting confined aquifers. Limestone and carbonate rocks in upstream tributaries dissolve to impart minerals, yielding moderately mineralised water. Coastal Plain dissolution enhances mineral content without the extreme hardness of pure karst systems.

Moderately hard water promotes scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, and laundry machines, reducing efficiency and leaving spots on glassware. Faucets and showerheads may accumulate deposits requiring periodic vinegar soaking. A water softener is recommended for households noticing these effects, though not essential for all users at this hardness level. Fairfax Water maintains pH between 7.2 and 8.5 for corrosion control, with full compliance on lead and copper under EPA LCR rules (90th percentile copper <1.3 mg/L). Treatment includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, chloramination, and UV disinfection; no PFAS exceedances have been reported in recent Consumer Confidence Reports.

Geology & Source: Potomac River watershed, Coastal Plain; Cretaceous Potomac Group sands and clays with limestone and dolomite in tributaries — Occoquan Aquifer calcareous sediments yield moderately mineralised water

Other Virginia Water Reports

Franconia

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Groveton

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Huntington

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Lincolnia

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rose Hill's water safe to drink?

Yes. Rose Hill'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 Rose Hill?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Rose Hill'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 Rose Hill compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Rose Hill (≈ 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 Rose Hill 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.