Hardness
Very Hard
227.5 PPM · 13.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Pennsboro, WV 26415
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Ritchie County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Pennsboro
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Ritchie 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
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 1,532 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
227.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
227.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
13.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 227.5 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
40
Nearest site
23.7 mi
Observation range
Jan 20, 2016–Sep 23, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Little Muskingum River at Bloomfield OH (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 26415 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Pennsboro median
228 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 227.5–227.5 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
87 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.001 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 17
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3304306 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3304306 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| TTHM | WV3304306 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3304306 | Unaddressed | Dec 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | WV3304302 | Resolved | Oct 22, 2024through Nov 7, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3304306 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through May 31, 2024 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | WV3304302 | Archived | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3304306 | Unaddressed | Feb 16, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3304302 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2022 |
| Public Notice | WV3304306 | Unaddressed | Feb 12, 2022 |
| Public Notice | WV3304306 | Unaddressed | Feb 12, 2022 |
| TTHM | WV3304306 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2021through Nov 30, 2021 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3304302 | Archived | Jun 1, 2021through Aug 31, 2021 |
| TTHM | WV3304302 | Archived | Jun 1, 2021through Aug 31, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3304302 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2019 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | WV3304306 | Unaddressed | Jun 15, 2017 |
| Public Notice | WV3304302 | Unaddressed | Jul 15, 2016 |
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 Pennsboro ZIP 26415 using 227.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
227.5 PPM is 2× 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
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule 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 Pennsboro
Is tap water safe in Pennsboro?+
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 227.5 PPM, or 13.3 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 227.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.