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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Danville (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Danville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

8.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

410.1 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · est.

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 Danville, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Danville	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Danville compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Danville, Kentucky	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	river
Nicholasville, Kentucky	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	river
Lawrenceburg, Kentucky	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Lexington, Kentucky	≈ 180+ mg/L	10 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Berea, Kentucky	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Danville compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Danville	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Danville's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 410.1 mg/LpH: 8.2

Danville City Water Works operates the sole water treatment plant in Boyle County, treating surface water from Herrington Lake on the Dix River. The utility serves Danville and surrounding areas in Boyle County, Kentucky, including wholesale supply to nearby systems such as Hustonville Water Works. Treatment employs conventional filtration and hypochlorite disinfection, with current testing confirming compliance with all EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goals as per 2026 reports. Contact is available at 859-238-1241 or P.O. Box 670, Danville, KY 40423.

The watershed encompasses the Dix River drainage into Herrington Lake, shaped by Paleozoic bedrock of Ordovician limestones and shales of the Lexington and Cynthiana groups, overlain by Mississippian-age limestones including the Newman and Warsaw formations. These carbonate-rich rocks contribute dissolved minerals, yet surface water dynamics and limited contact time result in a soft supply character. Karst features in the region influence infiltration, but reservoir storage in Herrington Lake buffers geological inputs for consistent water chemistry.

Soft water in Danville minimizes scale buildup on plumbing, heaters, and appliances, reducing maintenance needs and extending equipment life. Soap lathers efficiently, benefiting skin and laundry without excess residue. No water softener is required; in fact, very low mineralization may necessitate mineral addition for taste or corrosion control in pipes. Water quality meets all health guidelines with no contaminants reported exceeding limits; conventional filtration and chlorination ensure safe delivery, though specific pH, lead, copper, or PFAS data were not detailed in available retrieved reports.

Geology & Source: Dix River feeding Herrington Lake over Ordovician Lexington and Cynthiana limestones and shales; Mississippian Newman and Warsaw formations — karst terrain but reservoir storage moderates mineralization, yielding soft water

Other Kentucky Water Reports

Nicholasville

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Lawrenceburg

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Lexington

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Berea

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Report an Issue

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 Danville's water safe to drink?

Yes. Danville's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Danville?

Danville's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Danville compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Danville (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 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 Danville 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.