Vienna Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
reservoir
pH Level
6.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
153 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Vienna, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Vienna | 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 Vienna compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Vienna, Virginia | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 18 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Tysons, Virginia | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Oakton, Virginia | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Wolf Trap, Virginia | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Merrifield, Virginia | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Vienna compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Vienna | ≈ 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 Vienna's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The Town of Vienna Water Company serves approximately 30,410 residents in Vienna and parts of Fairfax County, Virginia. Water is purchased as treated surface water from the Fairfax County Water Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Primary sources include the Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir, processed at the Fairfax County Water Authority's treatment plants. Contact: 703-255-6300; address: 127 Center St. S., Vienna, VA 22180. Treatment includes filtration, disinfection, and corrosion control per EPA standards; fluoride is present below 4 ppm standards.
Water originates from the Potomac River Basin and Occoquan Reservoir watershed, spanning Fairfax and Prince William Counties. The underlying geology of the Piedmont province consists of metamorphic rocks — gneiss, schist, and granite — from the Precambrian and Paleozoic eras, with minor carbonate formations including limestone and dolomite outcrops in tributary areas. The Potomac River dissolves calcium and magnesium from these formations, yielding a hard supply influenced by rock weathering and seasonal rainfall variations; Fairfax Water notes a typical moderately hard to hard character.
Hard water causes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency and lifespan. White mineral deposits may appear on fixtures, glassware, and ice cubes. Regular vinegar descaling, scale inhibitors, or a water softener are recommended for households experiencing these effects to protect appliances and improve soap efficiency. Potential legacy contaminants including Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Formaldehyde, Alachlor, and 1,2,3-Trichloropropane have been noted in area analyses, though compliance details vary; no PFAS testing data is available from this utility.
Geology & Source: Piedmont province, northern Virginia; Precambrian and Paleozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks — gneiss, schist, granite — with limestone and dolomite outcrops in tributary areas; Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir inputs produce hard surface water
Other Virginia Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Vienna is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.