Hardness
Moderately Hard
95.4 PPM · 5.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Richwood, WV 26261
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Greenbrier County.
4 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Richwood Water Dept
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Greenbrier 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
0.0185 mg/L
123% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 2,480 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
95.4 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
95.4
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
5.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 95.4 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
9
Nearest site
29.5 mi
Observation range
Nov 3, 2020–Oct 28, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: KEENEY CREEK AT KEENEY'S CREEK RD NEAR WINONA, WV (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 26261 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Richwood median
95 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 95.4–95.4 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
46 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.
0 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0185 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
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 0.0185
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 73
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 4
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Feb 13, 2026 |
| Public Notice | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Feb 13, 2026 |
| Public Notice | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Feb 13, 2026 |
| Public Notice | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Feb 13, 2026 |
| Public Notice | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Sep 12, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | May 15, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Mar 17, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Feb 28, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Jan 12, 2025 |
| Nitrate | WV3303401 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3303401 | Unaddressed | Dec 30, 2024 |
| Chlorine | WV3303401 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WV3303401 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3303401 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 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 Richwood ZIP 26261 using 95.4 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Lead (90th percentile), Lead and Copper 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 Richwood
Is tap water safe in Richwood?+
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 95.4 PPM, or 5.6 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.