Water Softener & Filtration Installation in Suburban Maryland
Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard and Frederick counties get their water from a mix of WSSC Water, city plants and, in the outer suburbs, private wells. Hardness ranges from moderate in Bethesda to genuinely hard in Frederick.
Maryland requires an MHIC license for home improvement contracts. Installations are performed by Maryland-licensed plumbers.
Your utility
- Hardness
- Disinfectant
- Source
What we would install:
Data from the utility's published reports as of . See EWG's tap water database for this ZIP.
Maryland cities and neighborhoods we serve
Each page has the local utility's reported numbers, the kind of homes there and what we usually install.
Water utilities in Suburban Maryland
WSSC Water serves most of Montgomery and Prince George's counties from its Potomac and Patuxent plants and uses free chlorine rather than chloramine. Rockville, Frederick and Bowie run their own systems.
Water utility
WSSC Water
- Hardness
- about 4 to 8 grains per gallon
- Moderately hard (approximate, confirm with latest report)
- Disinfectant
- Free chlorine
- Standard carbon works
- Source
- Potomac River (Potomac plant) and the Patuxent reservoirs (Patuxent plant)
WSSC Water is one of the largest utilities in the country and serves most of suburban Maryland. Hardness is moderate and varies by plant, so the most common goals are spot-free glass, softer skin and better-tasting drinking water.
Checked September 2026. Source: WSSC Water.
Water utility
City of Rockville Water
- Hardness
- about 4 to 8 grains per gallon
- Moderately hard (approximate, confirm with latest report)
- Disinfectant
- Not yet confirmed
- We confirm before ordering media
- Source
- Potomac River, treated at the city-owned plant
Rockville is unusual in Montgomery County because the city runs its own plant. The first step for a Rockville home is confirming whether the bill comes from the City or from WSSC.
Checked September 2026. Source: City of Rockville.
Water utility
Howard County Bureau of Utilities
- Hardness
- about 3 to 7 grains per gallon
- Slightly to moderately hard (approximate, confirm with latest report)
- Disinfectant
- Free chlorine
- Standard carbon works
- Source
- Treated water purchased from Baltimore City and from WSSC Water
Howard County buys its water rather than treating it, and western Howard is largely on private wells. Columbia and Ellicott City homeowners mostly want better-tasting water and protection for newer appliances.
Checked September 2026. Source: Howard County Bureau of Utilities.
Water utility
City of Frederick Water
- Hardness
- about 6 to 12 grains per gallon
- Hard (approximate, confirm with latest report)
- Disinfectant
- Not yet confirmed
- We confirm before ordering media
- Source
- Potomac River, Monocacy River and local reservoirs (Fishing Creek and Linganore)
Frederick is the hardest-water city we serve because of its limestone valley. Scale on fixtures and inside water heaters is the number one complaint.
Checked September 2026. Source: City of Frederick.
Water utility
Frederick County community systems and private wells
- Hardness
- about 8 to 20 grains per gallon
- Hard to very hard (approximate, confirm with latest report)
- Disinfectant
- Varies
- We confirm before ordering media
- Source
- Groundwater community systems run by the county, plus many private wells
Outside the city, Frederick County homes are a mix of county groundwater systems and private wells. Hardness is usually the biggest issue, and iron is a close second.
Checked September 2026. Source: Frederick County Government.
Water utility
Private well
- Hardness
- Unknown until tested
- Unknown until tested (approximate, confirm with latest report)
- Disinfectant
- Varies
- We confirm before ordering media
- Source
- Your own well and pump
Well water is a different job. Iron, manganese, hardness, low pH, sediment and bacteria all need their own treatment step, and the order matters.
Checked September 2026. Source: Loudoun County well water testing program.
Published prices. No in-home sales pitch.
Prices include equipment, a licensed plumber's installation and startup for a standard install. If anything about your home changes the price, you hear it before we book the plumber, not after.
Whole-Home + Drinking Water
The complete package for a municipal-water home.
$2,499installed
- Metered whole-home softener
- Catalytic carbon for chloramine and chlorine
- Sediment pre-filter and bypass
- 5-stage under-sink reverse osmosis with faucet
- Licensed installation, startup and salt
Whole-Home Only
Soft, chlorine-free water at every tap and shower.
$1,899installed
- Metered whole-home softener
- Catalytic carbon media
- Sediment pre-filter and bypass
- Licensed installation, startup and salt
- Add reverse osmosis any time
Reverse Osmosis Only
Clean drinking water for condos and kitchens.
$799installed
- 5-stage NSF/ANSI 58 system
- Removes lead, PFAS and dissolved solids
- Dedicated lead-free faucet
- Optional fridge and ice line
- Licensed installation and first filters
Standard install covers
- Main water line, a drain and an outlet within reach in a basement, garage or utility room
- Kitchen sink with cabinet space for the reverse osmosis unit
- Copper or PEX supply lines in serviceable condition
- Permit where your jurisdiction requires one
Quoted before we book
- Long plumbing runs to reach the main line, or adding a drain or outlet
- Crawlspace or exterior installs, and galvanized pipe that needs replacing
- Private wells: lab test first, then a system designed to the results
- Fridge and ice maker line for the reverse osmosis unit