WSSC Water water, explained
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.
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)
Serves: Nearly all of Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
Checked September 2026. Source: WSSC Water.
Hardness: about 4 to 8 grains per gallon
Potomac-plant water tends to run harder than Patuxent-plant water, so the figure depends on which plant serves your neighborhood. Confirm in the WSSC annual report. Anything above 7 grains per gallon is classified as hard. In practice that means scale on fixtures and shower glass, spotted dishes and mineral buildup inside water heaters and tankless units.
Disinfectant: Free chlorine
WSSC Water is understood to use free chlorine rather than chloramine. Standard or catalytic carbon both work; we confirm before ordering media.
Seasonal changes: None expected for a free-chlorine system, but check the annual report.
PFAS
Utilities that draw from the Potomac have reported low-level PFAS detections in routine monitoring. EPA finalized limits for PFOA and PFOS in 2024. An under-sink reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 is the practical fix at the tap you drink from.
Lead
Older neighborhoods in Takoma Park, Silver Spring and Hyattsville have pre-1960 housing. Lead does not come from the treatment plant. It comes from older home plumbing: pre-1986 solder, older brass fixtures and, in some neighborhoods, lead service lines. A point-of-use filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead, or reverse osmosis, addresses it at the tap.
What we recommend on WSSC Water water
Whole-home softener with carbon, plus under-sink reverse osmosis. Bethesda and Potomac homes with tankless heaters benefit the most.
Figures checked September 2026 against WSSC Water. Utilities update reports annually; if you see a newer figure, tell us and we will update this page.
Pricing for WSSC Water homes
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