Hardness
Hard
170.5 PPM · 10 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Fairmont, WV 26554
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Marion County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Fairmont City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Marion County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.0133 mg/L
89% of action level
Utility match
8 systems
Serves 30,586 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
170.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
170.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 170.5 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
50
Nearest site
20.9 mi
Observation range
Jan 19, 2016–Sep 24, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Monongahela R L&D8 (Lower Pool) @ Point Marion, PA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 26554 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Fairmont median
171 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 170.5–170.5 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
30 PPM higher219 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0133 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2026
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.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0133
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in UG/L
Local 62
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 53
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHM | WV3302510 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302534 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Feb 10, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302510 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302523 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302510 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302523 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302510 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302523 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Sep 19, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302523 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 13, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3302533 | Unaddressed | May 14, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3302533 | Unaddressed | May 14, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3302534 | Resolved | Nov 16, 2022through Mar 27, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3302517 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Jun 26, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302534 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Mar 27, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3302523 | Resolved | Sep 16, 2022through Aug 2, 2022 |
| Public Notice | WV3302523 | Resolved | Sep 16, 2022through Aug 2, 2022 |
| Public Notice | WV3302534 | Resolved | Aug 13, 2022through Mar 27, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3302534 | Resolved | Aug 13, 2022through Mar 27, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3302510 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2022 |
| TTHM | WV3302534 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
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 Fairmont ZIP 26554 using 170.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
170.5 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
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
Water questions for Fairmont
Is tap water safe in Fairmont?+
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.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 170.5 PPM, or 10 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 170.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.