Hardness
Moderately Hard
88.8 PPM · 5.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Martinsburg, WV 25403
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Berkeley County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Berkeley County Pswd-Potomac River
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater influenced by surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Berkeley County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0026 mg/L
17% of action level
Utility match
7 systems
Serves 69,372 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
88.8 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
88.8
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
5.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 88.8 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
146
Nearest site
2.9 mi
Observation range
Jan 7, 2016–Jun 30, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: BACK CREEK NEAR JONES SPRINGS, WV (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 25403 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Martinsburg median
93 PPM
About the same4 indexed ZIP readings · Range 85.5–103.5 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
52 PPM lower219 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)
0.0026 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.62 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1995
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0026
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.62
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 91
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WV3300231 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3300231 | Unaddressed | Nov 14, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3300218 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3300212 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3300212 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3300238 | Unaddressed | Sep 29, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | WV3300212 | Archived | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3300218 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3300236 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | WV3300227 | Archived | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Chlorine | WV3300227 | Archived | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Chlorine | WV3300236 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3300238 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2025through Feb 6, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3300231 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | WV3300231 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3300238 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3300212 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Jan 16, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3300231 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3300231 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3300238 | Unaddressed | Sep 29, 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
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Martinsburg ZIP 25403 using 88.8 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Martinsburg
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Martinsburg
Is tap water safe in Martinsburg?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 88.8 PPM, or 5.2 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.