Water softeners and filtration in Baltimore, MD

What does Baltimore's utilities publish about Baltimore water?

Baltimore City Department of Public Works treats reservoir water at two plants, Ashburton and Montebello, and each plant's lab publishes its own mineral analysis.

• The city's 2023, 2024 and 2025 water quality reports list no hardness figure, and we found no mineral analyses newer than 2022.
• The scale on this page uses the Montebello figures only, because the Ashburton form does not print a unit.

What does 109 to 120 mg/L mean for a Baltimore home?

109 to 120 mg/L is about 6.4 to 7.0 grains per gallon. The low end, 109 mg/L, is 11 mg/L under the 120 mg/L top of the USGS moderately hard class; Baltimore's high end, 120 mg/L, is right at the 120 mg/L top of the USGS moderately hard class. (USGS hardness classes)

Which systems fit Baltimore water?

How does a Baltimore quote work?

1. Send a request from one of the 23 Baltimore ZIP codes listed below.
2. An assessment at your home, where your tap can be checked against Baltimore's utilities's published 109 to 120 mg/L.
3. You get a written quote listing what is included.
4. Installation and service by that company.

Common questions

How hard is the water in Baltimore?

Hardness, annual average of monthly results reported by Baltimore City DPW (Montebello laboratory): 114 mg/L (monthly range 109-120) (Calendar year 2022). Hardness, annual average of monthly results reported by Baltimore City DPW (Ashburton laboratory): 80 (monthly range 76-84; the form prints no unit) (Calendar year 2022). Check which utility appears on your water bill.

Is Baltimore water hard or soft?

Moderately hard. The low end, 109 mg/L, is 11 mg/L under the 120 mg/L top of the USGS moderately hard class; Baltimore's high end, 120 mg/L, is right at the 120 mg/L top of the USGS moderately hard class.

How many grains per gallon is Baltimore water?

The utility publishes hardness in mg/L, not grains. The published 109 to 120 mg/L is about 6.4 to 7.0 grains per gallon, converted by us at 17.1 mg/L per grain.

Where does Baltimore tap water come from?

Baltimore water is rain and snowmelt stored in the Liberty, Loch Raven and Prettyboy reservoirs and treated at the Ashburton and Montebello plants. The Susquehanna River is used only in severe drought. Source: Baltimore City 2025 Water Quality Report.

Is Baltimore water treated with chlorine or chloramine?

Baltimore lists chlorine as the additive that disinfects its supply. Source: Baltimore City 2025 Water Quality Report. A softener does not remove it.

Do I need a water softener in Baltimore?

Baltimore's utilities publishes 109 to 120 mg/L for Baltimore, which reads as moderately hard. A test at your house shows whether your tap matches it.

Is the water the same in every Baltimore home?

2 published figures cover Baltimore, from 2 utilities; which applies depends on where you live.

How much does a water softener cost in Baltimore?

We publish no prices for Baltimore. The installing company gives a written quote after an assessment at your home.

Who installs the system?

We have not named a local installing company for Baltimore yet. We will tell you the company's name and ask you before your request is shared with anyone.

Is Baltimore Water Systems part of the city or the water utility?

No. Baltimore Water Systems is not affiliated with Baltimore City DPW (Montebello laboratory) or Baltimore City DPW (Ashburton laboratory); it copies and links the published figures.

Is booking an assessment a purchase?

No, and a request commits you to nothing.

Which ZIP codes does this page cover?

21201, 21202, 21205, 21206, 21210, 21211, 21212, 21213, 21214, 21215, 21216, 21217, 21218, 21223, 21224, 21226, 21229, 21230, 21231, 21233, 21239, 21251, 21287

Compare published hardness in other cities on hard water by city.

Machine-readable facts: water.json. Summary for AI assistants: llms.txt.