Hardness
Hard
176.5 PPM · 10.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Lynch, KY 40855
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Harlan County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Lynch Water Works
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Harlan 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
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 1,078 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
176.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
176.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 176.5 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
6
Nearest site
26.7 mi
Observation range
Aug 30, 2016–Aug 31, 2016
Estimate confidence
Low
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 40855 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Lynch median
177 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 176.5–176.5 PPM
Kentucky median
157 PPM
20 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 17
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | KY0480262 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | KY0480262 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | KY0480262 | Unaddressed | Nov 2, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KY0480262 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KY0480262 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KY0480262 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KY0480262 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | KY0480262 | Unaddressed | Jul 12, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KY0480262 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | KY0480262 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Nov 5, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | KY0480262 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| TTHM | KY0480262 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | KY0480262 | Unaddressed | Mar 16, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KY0480262 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 25, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | KY0480262 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 27, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | KY0480262 | Resolved | May 1, 2024through May 31, 2024 |
| Public Notice | KY0480262 | Resolved | Jun 27, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
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 Lynch ZIP 40855 using 176.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
176.5 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Lynch
Is tap water safe in Lynch?+
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 176.5 PPM, or 10.3 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 176.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.