Hardness
Moderately Hard
87.8 PPM · 5.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Shepherdstown, WV 25443
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Jefferson County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Corporation Of Shepherdstown
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Jefferson 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
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 4,300 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
87.8 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
87.8
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
5.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 87.8 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
132
Nearest site
0.8 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: POTOMAC RIVER AT SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 25443 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Shepherdstown median
88 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 87.8–87.8 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
53 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2027
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 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 12
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3301972 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3301972 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3301972 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Aug 11, 2025 |
| Nitrate | WV3301972 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | WV3301972 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3301972 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHM | WV3301972 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3301972 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2023 |
| TTHM | WV3301933 | Archived | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Public Notice | WV3301972 | Resolved | May 13, 2021through Oct 16, 2023 |
| Nitrate | WV3301933 | Archived | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3301933 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2018 |
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 Shepherdstown ZIP 25443 using 87.8 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate 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 Shepherdstown
Is tap water safe in Shepherdstown?+
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 87.8 PPM, or 5.1 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.