Hardness
Hard
163 PPM · 9.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Lester, WV 25865
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Raleigh County.
4 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Lester Municipal Water Works
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Raleigh County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
4 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0141 mg/L
94% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 665 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
163 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
163
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
9.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 163 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
24.9 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
Is 25865 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Lester median
163 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 163–163 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
22 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)
0.0141 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2022
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 0.0141
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in UG/L
Local 67
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 45
- Health-based
- 9
- Active health-based
- 4
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Dec 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Nov 2, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 67 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | WV3304115 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 67 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | WV3304115 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3304115 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2024through Jun 17, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Nov 22, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3304115 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Sep 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Sep 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Sep 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Sep 15, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 71 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | WV3304115 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Jun 2, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Jun 2, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Jun 2, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Jun 2, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 63.53 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | WV3304115 | Archived | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3304115 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2023 |
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 Lester ZIP 25865 using 163 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
163 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), Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule have 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 Lester
Is tap water safe in Lester?+
EPA ECHO reports 4 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 163 PPM, or 9.5 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 163 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.