Hardness
Hard
132.5 PPM · 7.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Albany, KY 42602
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Clinton County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Albany Water Works
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Clinton County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 9,042 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
132.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
132.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
7.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 132.5 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
16
Nearest site
21.7 mi
Observation range
Jul 18, 2022–Apr 6, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: BIG SPRING (Spring).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 42602 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Albany median
133 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 132.5–132.5 PPM
Kentucky median
157 PPM
24 PPM lower162 indexed ZIP readings · Range 32.6–360 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.061
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 7
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | KY0270003 | Resolved | Oct 24, 2022through Jun 5, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | KY0270003 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Aug 11, 2022 |
| Public Notice | KY0270003 | Resolved | Nov 11, 2021through Mar 7, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.061 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY0270003 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KY0270003 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2021through Aug 31, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | KY0270003 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Aug 11, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.061 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY0270003 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Albany ZIP 42602 using 132.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
132.5 PPM is 1× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) has a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Albany
Is tap water safe in Albany?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 132.5 PPM, or 7.7 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 132.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.