Water Hardness in Maryland, Columbia
The water hardness in Columbia, Maryland, ranges from moderately hard to very hard, 3.5-10.8 Grains per Gallon (60-185mg/L). But when it comes to choosing a water softener, it’s important to know the exact value, as this will help in choosing the correct size and model.
Baltimore City serves 75% of the county.
Sourced from Liberty, Loch Raven, and Prettyboy reservoirs. Hard water, typically 8.8-10.8 gpg (150–185 mg/L).
WSSC Water serves the North Laurel area near I-95.
East of I-95, south of Patuxent Range Road. Drawn from the Potomac River, the water hardness is 7–7.6 gpg (120-130mg/L), or from the Patuxent River, which is softer, 3.5 – 3.8 gpg (60-65 mg/L).
Well Water Supply
Homes west of Route 32 are often on private wells — with varying hardness based on local bedrock geology.