Hardness
Hard
169 PPM · 9.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationA source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Mcdowell County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Hard
169 PPM · 9.9 GPG
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
4.8e-4 mg/L
3% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 2,242 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
169 PPM
Parts per million
169
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
9.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 169 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
18
Nearest site
8.7 mi
Observation range
Aug 30, 2016–Oct 28, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: TRIB BELOW MULTIPLE MINE DISCHARGES AT HAVACO, WV (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Bartley median
169 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 169–169 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
28 PPM higher219 indexed ZIP readings · Range 85.5–265 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
Lead (PB90)
4.8e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Measured in mg/L
Local 4.8e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Measured in UG/L
Local 70
EPA limit 0.06
100% line = listed limit
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3302434 | Resolved | Sep 29, 2025through Jan 12, 2026 |
| Public Notice | WV3302434 | Unaddressed | Jul 17, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 70 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | WV3302434 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Arsenic | WV3302434 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Arsenic | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 61 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | WV3302434 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Xylenes, Total | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Vinyl chloride | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Trichloroethylene | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| CHLOROBENZENE | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Benzene | WV3302434 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Matched to Bartley ZIP 24813 using 169 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
169 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
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 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.
Frequently asked
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 169 PPM, or 9.9 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
At 169 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.