Hardness
Very Hard
183.5 PPM · 10.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Jenkins, KY 41517
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Letcher County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Jenkins Water System
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Letcher 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 2,609 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
183.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
183.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 183.5 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
12
Nearest site
24 mi
Observation range
Aug 30, 2016–Oct 18, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: GUEST RIVER NEAR MILLER YARD, VA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 41517 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Jenkins median
184 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 183.5–183.5 PPM
Kentucky median
157 PPM
27 PPM higher162 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
3 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
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.082
EPA limit 0.08
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.073
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 6
- Health-based
- 5
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.082 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY0670213 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.073 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY0670213 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.075 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY0670213 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.071 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY0670213 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.074 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY0670213 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Nitrate | KY0670213 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
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 Jenkins ZIP 41517 using 183.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
183.5 PPM is 2× 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
TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) have 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Jenkins
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Jenkins
Is tap water safe in Jenkins?+
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 183.5 PPM, or 10.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 183.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.