How does Bardstown's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Bardstown (91 mg/L) is 60 mg/L softer than average.

Bardstown Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

91mg/L

Moderately Hard

5.3 grains per gallon

Source

river

pH Level

7.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

155.7 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.24

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

91mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Bardstown, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Bardstown	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	7.5 yrs	8.5 yrs	-12%
Washing Machine	10.6 yrs	12 yrs	-12%
Water Heater	13.2 yrs	15 yrs	-12%

Regional Water Comparison

How Bardstown compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Bardstown, Kentucky	91 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
Mount Washington, Kentucky	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Shepherdsville, Kentucky	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Highview, Kentucky	≈ 180+ mg/L	6.1 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Fern Creek, Kentucky	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Bardstown compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Bardstown	91 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Bardstown's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 155.7 mg/LpH: 7.5

Bardstown, Kentucky, in Nelson County — the Nelson County seat adjacent to Louisville and Springfield in central Kentucky — receives its water from the Bardstown Water System, drawing from the Rolling Fork (Nelson County) through the central Kentucky distribution.

The moderately soft 91 mg/L hardness and TDS of 155.7 mg/L reflect the central Kentucky Nelson County Rolling Fork supply's moderate calcareous character — the Knobs region's Mississippian limestone and Silurian McKenzie Formation contribute moderate calcareous dissolution, but diluted by the insoluble Silurian formations in the upper Rolling Fork watershed producing a moderately soft supply. The Rolling Fork at Nelson County — Mississippian St. Louis Limestone (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Silurian McKenzie Formation (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Devonian insoluble shale (dilutant — insoluble upper watershed).

At 91 mg/L, Bardstown's water is moderately soft — light scale forms slowly in appliances, dishwashers remain efficient, and no softening is needed. Annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 3.6 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Nelson County central Kentucky distillery-industrial corridor contribute to Bardstown's readings.

Geology & Source: Bardstown in Nelson County draws from the Bardstown Water System on the Rolling Fork (Nelson County, central Kentucky) — the Rolling Fork watershed at Nelson County drains the Knobs (Mississippian St. Louis Limestone — calcareous) and Silurian McKenzie Formation (calcareous) — Kentucky Nelson County Rolling Fork Mississippian-Silurian calcareous supply produces moderately soft water at 91 mg/L with TDS 155.7 mg/L.

Other Kentucky Water Reports

Mount Washington

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Shepherdsville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Highview

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Fern Creek

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bardstown's water safe to drink?

Yes. Bardstown's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 91 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Bardstown?

Bardstown's water is moderately hard at 91 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Bardstown compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Bardstown (91 mg/L) is 60 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Bardstown is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.