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City water profile

Harlan water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Harlan, Kentucky.

Median indexed hardness

177PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 176.5–176.5 PPM

State comparison
20 PPM above
State hardness rank
#56 of 129
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Harlan has 2 published ZIP profiles across Harlan County. The indexed median is 177 PPM, compared with 157 PPM across Kentucky.

Among the 129 Kentuckycities with an indexed median, Harlan ranks #56from highest to lowest. Across all 164 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 32.6to 360 PPM.

The 176.5–176.5 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard2 ZIPs
Very hard0 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
51.4 miles
Profiles with evidence
2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 2

Observation window: Aug 30, 2016 to Aug 31, 2016.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Harlan

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

40806

Hard

176.5 PPM

Nearest site
49.2 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

40831

Hard

176.5 PPM

Nearest site
51.4 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Harlan Municipal Water Works

PWSID KY0480178

Surface water
System population served
4,574
Last reported
Jun 18, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

No violation records are included in the current lookback window.

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Harlan

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 177 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.