Water Hardness in Kentucky Cities

Water Hardness in Kentucky Cities

Water hardness, which primarily refers to the concentration of dissolved substances like calcium and magnesium, can greatly vary across Kentucky. The state, positioned in the eastern south-central region of the United States, often experiences diverse water hardness levels, unlike regions such as the Midwest which are prone to higher hardness levels.

For perspective on Kentucky, the specific hardness measurements gathered from several towns and cities indicate a tendency towards moderate to high hardness levels, compared to the national average. As such, Kentucky’s water is generally classified in the ‘moderate to hard’ category. This attribute has significant implications in areas such as the water’s taste and the effectiveness of cleaning substances like soaps and detergents. It should be noted that these hardness levels can fluctuate and are subject to change based on local geological conditions and differences in water sources.

The dataset outlines the differing water hardness levels, measured in Parts Per Million (ppm) and Grains Per Gallon (gpg), across a range of cities. Notably, cities like Louisville, Owensboro, and Glasgow have higher hardness levels, exceeding 130 ppm. Meanwhile, Lexington and Nicholasville report low hardness levels, under 30 ppm. Several cities, including Bowling Green, Georgetown, and Richmond, among others, do not provide data regarding their water hardness levels.

City Hardness ppm (mg/L) Hardness gpg Information Source Notes
Louisville 135.0 7.9 Link
Lexington 10.0 0.6 Link Took median of range
Bowling Green n/a n/a Link
Owensboro 175.0 10.2 Link Softened to that level at the treatment plant
Covington 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Georgetown n/a n/a Link
Richmond n/a n/a Link
Florence 137.0 8.0 Link Buried in the FAQ Page
Elizabethtown n/a n/a Link Doesn’t list the hardness of source water, just that personal water filters should set to either 16.6 gpg or 10.6 gpg depending on source.
Nicholasville 10.0 0.6 Link Took median from range.
Hopkinsville n/a n/a Link
Independence 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Jeffersontown n/a n/a Link
Frankfort n/a n/a Link
Henderson n/a n/a Link
Paducah n/a n/a Link
Radcliff n/a n/a Link
Ashland n/a n/a Link
Erlanger 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Madisonville n/a n/a Link
Winchester n/a n/a Link
Mount Washington 135.0 7.9 Link Bullitt County covered by Lousiville
St. Matthews 135.0 7.9 Link Lousville serves per this site
Shelbyville 135.0 7.9 Link Covered by Louisville from their CCR map
Murray n/a n/a Link
Danville 30.0 1.8 Link
Fort Thomas 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Berea n/a n/a Link
Shively 135.0 7.9 Link Covered by Louisville from their CCR map
Glasgow 145.5 8.5 Link Took median of two different hardnesses for two different sources for Glasgow
Shepherdsville 135.0 7.9 Link Bullitt County covered by Louisville
Newport 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Bardstown n/a n/a Link
Somerset n/a n/a Link
Lawrenceburg n/a n/a Link
Campbellsville n/a n/a Link
Lyndon 135.0 7.9 Link Covered by Louisville from their CCR map
Versailles n/a n/a Link
Alexandria 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Paris n/a n/a Link
La Grange n/a n/a Link
Franklin n/a n/a Link
Mayfield n/a n/a Link 6 CCRs, none of them have hardness.
Middletown 135.0 7.9 Link Covered by Louisville from their CCR map
Middlesborough 119.8 7.0 Link
Elsmere 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Harrodsburg n/a n/a Link
Maysville n/a n/a Link
Hillview 135.0 7.9 Link Bullitt County covered by Louisville
Fort Mitchell 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Edgewood 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Oak Grove n/a n/a Link
Corbin n/a n/a Link
Mount Sterling n/a n/a Link
Union 122.0 7.0 Link Buys from Cincinatti
London n/a n/a Link
Villa Hills 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Pikeville n/a n/a Link
Flatwoods n/a n/a Link Latest available on website was 2020
Russellville n/a n/a Link
Morehead n/a n/a Link
Taylor Mill 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Highland Heights 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Vine Grove n/a n/a Link Purchases from Hardin County Water District #1 which doesn’t report
Leitchfield n/a n/a Link Part of Grayson County
Cynthiana n/a n/a Link
Lebanon n/a n/a Link
Crestwood 135.0 7.9 Link Water comes from Louisville, per linked source
Cold Spring 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Princeton n/a n/a Link
Wilmore n/a n/a Link
Central City n/a n/a Was unable to find the specific CCR for Greenville, KY.
Fort Wright 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Monticello n/a n/a Link
Dayton 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Walton 116.0 6.8 Link Purchases from Northern KY Water District
Bellevue 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Douglass Hills 135.0 7.9 Link Covered by Louisville from their CCR map
Williamsburg n/a n/a Link
Hazard n/a n/a Link 2019 report
Columbia n/a n/a Link
Benton n/a n/a Link
Hurstbourne 135.0 7.9 Link Covered by Louisville from their CCR map
Prospect 135.0 7.9 Link Covered by Louisville from their CCR map
Greenville n/a n/a Was unable to find the specific CCR for Greenville, KY.
Ludlow 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Paintsville n/a n/a Link
Crescent Springs 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Scottsville n/a n/a Link
Prestonsburg n/a n/a Link
Crittenden 119.0 6.9 Link Per CCR purchases from Cincy and Northern KY Water District. Took median of those two values
Williamstown n/a n/a Link
Lancaster n/a n/a Link
Carrollton n/a n/a Link
Grayson n/a n/a Link
Russell n/a n/a Link
Southgate 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Stanford n/a n/a Link
Beaver Dam n/a n/a Link
Crestview Hills 116.0 6.8 Link Part of Northern KY Water District Based on Map
Top 100 Kentucky cities by population and their reported water hardness
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon

Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.

These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.

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