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City water profile

Athens water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Athens, West Virginia.

Median indexed hardness

161PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 161–161 PPM

State comparison
20 PPM above
State hardness rank
#72 of 179
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Athens has 1 published ZIP profile across Mercer County. The indexed median is 161 PPM, compared with 141 PPM across West Virginia.

Among the 179 West Virginiacities with an indexed median, Athens ranks #72from highest to lowest. Across all 219 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 85.5to 265 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community. 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
Hard1 ZIP
Very hard0 ZIPs

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
27.2 miles
Profiles with evidence
1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 1

Observation window: Aug 30, 2016 to Oct 28, 2024.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Athens

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

24712

Hard

161 PPM

Nearest site
27.2 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Athens Town Of

PWSID WV3302801

Surface water
System population served
5,633
Last reported
May 19, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this 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.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
NitrateWV3302801Jan 1, 2025Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)WV3302801Apr 1, 2021Resolved
TTHMWV3302801Apr 1, 2021Resolved

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 Athens

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 161 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.