Is tap water safe in Gary?

EPA SDWIS reports 26 active health-based violation record(s) among systems associated with this ZIP. Review your utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.

How hard is the water in Gary, WV?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 103.5 ppm (6.1 grains per gallon), classified as moderately hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 24888?

There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm conditions with an at-home hardness test before purchasing equipment.

City water profile

Gary water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

103PPM

4 indexed ZIPs

Range 103–103.5 PPM

State comparison: 38 PPM below
State hardness rank: #171 of 179
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Gary has 4 published ZIP profiles across Mcdowell County. The indexed median is 103 PPM, compared with 141 PPM across West Virginia.

Among the 179 West Virginiacities with an indexed median, Gary ranks #171from highest to lowest. Across all 219 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 85.5to 265 PPM.

The 103–103.5 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard4 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

4 of 4 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 2.8 miles
Profiles with evidence: 4/4

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 4Low: 0

Gary City Of

PWSID WV3302420

Groundwater

System population served: 1,633
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.

Record	System	Period	Status
Chlorine	WV3302420	Mar 1, 2026	Archived
Revised Total Coliform Rule	WV3302420	Mar 1, 2026	Archived
Groundwater Rule	WV3302420	Feb 1, 2026	Archived
Lead and Copper Rule	WV3302420	Jan 1, 2026	Unaddressed
Groundwater Rule	WV3302420	Jan 1, 2026	Archived
Consumer Confidence Rule	WV3302420	Oct 1, 2025	Unaddressed
Groundwater Rule	WV3302420	Sep 1, 2025	Archived
Groundwater Rule	WV3302420	Aug 1, 2025	Archived
Lead and Copper Rule	WV3302420	Jul 1, 2025	Unaddressed
Public Notice	WV3302420	Feb 14, 2025	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other West Virginia communities

Bartley

Mcdowell County

169 PPM median

Berwind

Mcdowell County

169 PPM median

Bradshaw

Mcdowell County

102 PPM median

Crumpler

Mcdowell County

104 PPM median

Davy

Mcdowell County

103 PPM median

Maybeury

Mcdowell County

104 PPM median

Search all 179 West Virginia cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Gary

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 103 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.