Hardness
Hard
140 PPM · 8.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in St. Albans, WV 25177
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Kanawha County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- St Albans Water
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Kanawha 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 13,758 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
140 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
140
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 140 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
15
Nearest site
35.5 mi
Observation range
Nov 4, 2019–Oct 28, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: OHIO RIVER AT GALLIPOLIS (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 25177 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
St. Albans median
140 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 140–140 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
About the same219 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 Dec 31, 2022
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 85
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 56
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Unaddressed | Nov 27, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3302031 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Chlorine | WV3302031 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 85 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | WV3302031 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3302031 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| TTHM | WV3302031 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Apr 12, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Apr 12, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3302031 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Apr 15, 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 St. Albans ZIP 25177 using 140 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
140 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
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 St. Albans
Is tap water safe in St. Albans?+
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 140 PPM, or 8.2 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 140 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.