Hardness
Hard
149.5 PPM · 8.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Pax, WV 25904
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Fayette County.
7 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Pax Water Company
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Fayette County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
7 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0018 mg/L
12% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 762 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
149.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
149.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 149.5 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
12
Nearest site
12.2 mi
Observation range
Aug 13, 2020–Oct 28, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: WOLF CREEK ABOVE CR 9/1 NEA FAYETTEVILLE, WV (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 25904 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Pax median
150 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 149.5–149.5 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
9 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)
0.0018 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2022
Copper (CU90)
1.56 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1993
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0018
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.56
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 25
- Health-based
- 7
- Active health-based
- 7
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3301026 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jun 28, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Jan 11, 2025 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Nov 14, 2021 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Nov 14, 2021 |
| Public Notice | WV3301026 | Unaddressed | Feb 13, 2021 |
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 Pax ZIP 25904 using 149.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
149.5 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
Copper (90th percentile), 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 Pax
Is tap water safe in Pax?+
EPA ECHO reports 7 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 149.5 PPM, or 8.7 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 149.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.