Wolf Trap Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
212.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.31
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 Wolf Trap, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Wolf Trap | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -32% |
| Washing Machine | 9.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -22% |
| Water Heater | 11 yrs | 15 yrs | -27% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Wolf Trap compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wolf Trap, Virginia | 114.5 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Vienna, Virginia | 85.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Great Falls, Virginia | 169 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Tysons, Virginia | 178.5 mg/L | 9.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Oakton, Virginia | 147 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Wolf Trap compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wolf Trap | 114.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Wolf Trap's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Wolf Trap, Virginia, in Fairfax County — an unincorporated Fairfax County community adjacent to McLean and Vienna in northern Fairfax County, home to the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts — receives its municipal water from Fairfax Water, drawing from the Potomac River at the Fairfax Water Griffith and Frederick Douglass treatment plants (Fairfax County).
The moderately hard 114.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 212.9 mg/L are harder than nearby Vienna (85.5 mg/L) in the same Fairfax Water system — likely reflecting Wolf Trap's proximity to the Frederick Douglass WTP zone (which processes a blend with slightly more calcareous Potomac tributary input) or the Fairfax Water north distribution sub-zone. The Potomac River at Fairfax County drains the Virginia Blue Ridge (Precambrian Catoctin Greenstone) and minor Triassic Culpeper Basin calcareous contributions, producing the moderately hard northern Fairfax reading.
At 114.5 mg/L, Wolf Trap's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.8 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Fairfax County northern Virginia suburban corridor and the Potomac River PFAS background contribute to Wolf Trap's readings.
Geology & Source: Wolf Trap in Fairfax County draws from Fairfax Water on the Potomac River (Fairfax County, north Virginia) — the Potomac drains the Virginia Blue Ridge (Precambrian Catoctin Greenstone — mostly insoluble) and Coastal Plain sediments — Virginia Fairfax County Potomac River Blue Ridge-Coastal Plain watershed produces moderately hard water at 114.5 mg/L with TDS 212.9 mg/L in this Fairfax County Virginia community.