Hardness
Hard
143.5 PPM · 8.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Providence, KY 42450
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Webster County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Providence Water Works
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Webster 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 4,538 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
143.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
143.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 143.5 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
4
Nearest site
48 mi
Observation range
Jan 4, 2016–May 28, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: TENNESSEE RIVER AT HIGHWAY 60 NEAR PADUCAH, KY (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 42450 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Providence median
144 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 143.5–143.5 PPM
Kentucky median
157 PPM
13 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
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 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.091
EPA limit 0.08
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.063
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 34
- Health-based
- 30
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.091 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY1170361 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.063 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY1170361 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.061 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY1170361 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.087 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY1170361 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.084 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY1170361 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | KY1170361 | Resolved | Jun 24, 2025through Nov 7, 2025 |
| Public Notice | KY1170361 | Resolved | Jun 24, 2025through Nov 7, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.066 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.086 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KY1170361 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 8, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.067 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.088 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.067 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.09 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.069 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.063 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.091 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.072 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KY1170361 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 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 Providence ZIP 42450 using 143.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
143.5 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
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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Providence
Is tap water safe in Providence?+
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 143.5 PPM, or 8.4 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 143.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.