Hardness
Hard
173 PPM · 10.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Whitmer, WV 26296
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Randolph County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Whitmer Public Water System
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Randolph 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
6.5e-4 mg/L
4% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 254 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
173 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
173
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 173 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
59
Nearest site
10.7 mi
Observation range
Jun 14, 2016–Nov 13, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Ran-0260 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 26296 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Whitmer median
173 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 173–173 PPM
West Virginia median
141 PPM
32 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
6.5e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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 6.5e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 44
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3304216 | Unaddressed | Dec 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3304216 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | WV3304216 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Nov 15, 2024through Nov 20, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3304216 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 2, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Aug 13, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Aug 13, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Aug 13, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Jul 15, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Jul 15, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WV3304216 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Jun 16, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Feb 16, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Feb 16, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WV3304216 | Resolved | Jan 5, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts RuleHealth-based | WV3304216 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2022through Dec 14, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WV3304216 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2022through Nov 30, 2022 |
| Groundwater Rule | WV3304216 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2022through Nov 30, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WV3304216 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Oct 2, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | WV3304216 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Oct 31, 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 Whitmer ZIP 26296 using 173 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
173 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Whitmer
Is tap water safe in Whitmer?+
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 173 PPM, or 10.1 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 173 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.