Hardness
Hard
140 PPM · 8.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Alum Creek, WV 25202
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Kanawha County.
3 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Lincoln Psd
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Kanawha County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
3 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
8.0e-4 mg/L
5% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 4,039 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
140 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
140
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 140 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
15
Nearest site
38.5 mi
Observation range
Nov 4, 2019–Oct 28, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: OHIO RIVER AT GALLIPOLIS (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 25202 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Alum Creek median
140 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 140–140 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
About the same219 indexed ZIP readings · Range 85.5–265 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)
8.0e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
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 8.0e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 60
- Health-based
- 13
- Active health-based
- 3
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WV3302205 | Unaddressed | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Public Notice | WV3302205 | Unaddressed | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Public Notice | WV3302205 | Unaddressed | Mar 10, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WV3302205 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3302205 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | WV3302205 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Chlorine | WV3302205 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3302205 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3302205 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WV3302205 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Public Notice | WV3302205 | Unaddressed | Jan 14, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3302205 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3302205 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | WV3302205 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3302205 | Archived | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3302205 | Archived | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3302205 | Archived | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | WV3302205 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3302205 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | WV3302205 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
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 Alum Creek ZIP 25202 using 140 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
140 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
Lead and Copper Rule 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Alum Creek
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Alum Creek
Is tap water safe in Alum Creek?+
EPA ECHO reports 3 active health-based violations among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 140 PPM, or 8.2 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 140 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.