Hopkinsville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
594.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026
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 Hopkinsville, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Hopkinsville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -20% |
| Washing Machine | 9.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -20% |
| Water Heater | 12 yrs | 15 yrs | -20% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Hopkinsville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hopkinsville, Kentucky | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 10.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Fort Campbell North, Kentucky | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Clarksville, Tennessee | 103 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Madisonville, Kentucky | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Springfield, Tennessee | 96 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Hopkinsville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hopkinsville | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Hopkinsville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority (HWEA) serves approximately 30,000 residents in Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky. The utility operates the McKenzie T. Moss Water Treatment Plant, sourcing raw water from three surface supplies: Lake Barkley (a major reservoir on the Cumberland River), the North Quarry, and the South Quarry — local aggregate pits that function as supplemental surface water impoundments during high-demand periods. Water undergoes conventional treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection before distribution. Annual water quality reports are published at hwea-ky.com.
The supply originates from the Lake Barkley watershed within the Cumberland River basin, spanning the Pennyrile Forest region. Water percolates through Mississippian carbonate formations — including the Ste. Genevieve Limestone and Gasper Oolite — characteristic of Kentucky's karst terrain. These carbonate rocks and underlying dolomite layers impart a hard character through mineral dissolution. The North and South Quarries interact directly with fractured bedrock, enhancing mineral content, while Lake Barkley receives runoff from limestone-dominated uplands, shaping the overall hard supply profile.
Hard water in Hopkinsville causes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and shortening appliance lifespan. White deposits on fixtures and soap scum are common. Regular vinegar cleaning of showerheads and faucets helps; annual water heater flushing prevents sediment accumulation. A water softener is recommended for households to reduce staining and improve soap lathering. HWEA's 2024 Water Quality Report confirms full EPA compliance and earned the AWOP Microbial award, with all eight tested contaminants below safe limits and no violations in recent years.
Geology & Source: Western Coal Field physiographic province; Mississippian Ste. Genevieve Limestone, Gasper Oolite, and karst dolomite in the Pennyroyal Plain dissolve calcium and magnesium into Lake Barkley and quarry sources — carbonate-rich bedrock yields a hard
Other Kentucky Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hopkinsville's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Hopkinsville?
How does Hopkinsville compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Hopkinsville is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.