Hardness
Very Hard
203.5 PPM · 11.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Salem, WV 26426
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Doddridge County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Salem Water Board
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Doddridge 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
0.0013 mg/L
9% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 1,630 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
203.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
203.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 203.5 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
50
Nearest site
39.1 mi
Observation range
Jan 19, 2016–Sep 24, 2025
Estimate confidence
Low
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 26426 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Salem median
204 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 203.5–203.5 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
63 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)
0.0013 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2023
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 0.0013
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 83
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 26
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Aug 16, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Aug 16, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Aug 16, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Aug 16, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3301720 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 29, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Feb 15, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Feb 15, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Feb 15, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Feb 15, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Jul 18, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 83 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | WV3301720 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3301720 | Unaddressed | Mar 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3301720 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 142 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | WV3301720 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 196 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | WV3301720 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| TTHM | WV3301720 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 7, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3301720 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 6, 2022 |
| Public Notice | WV3301720 | Resolved | Feb 13, 2022through Jul 11, 2022 |
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 Salem ZIP 26426 using 203.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
203.5 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
TTHM 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 Salem
Is tap water safe in Salem?+
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 203.5 PPM, or 11.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 203.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.