Hardness
Hard
145 PPM · 8.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in St. Marys, WV 26170
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Pleasants County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Saint Marys
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Pleasants 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
5.5e-4 mg/L
4% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 2,711 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
145 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
145
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 145 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
49
Nearest site
5.4 mi
Observation range
Jun 1, 2016–Jun 1, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Rit-0126 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 26170 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
St. Marys median
145 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 145–145 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)
5.5e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.86 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2013
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 5.5e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.86
EPA limit 1.3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WV3303707 | Resolved | Nov 15, 2025through Jan 9, 2026 |
| Public Notice | WV3303707 | Resolved | Nov 15, 2025through Jan 9, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3303707 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3303704 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 9, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3303707 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WV3303707 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| TTHM | WV3303707 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WV3303707 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WV3303707 | Archived | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | WV3303707 | Archived | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3303704 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2020 |
| Public Notice | WV3303707 | Unaddressed | Sep 10, 2017 |
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. Marys ZIP 26170 using 145 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
145 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
Copper (90th percentile) 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. Marys
Is tap water safe in St. Marys?+
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 145 PPM, or 8.5 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 145 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.