Madisonville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.2 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
384.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.47
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · 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 Madisonville, your appliances are currently losing 23% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Madisonville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -55% |
| Washing Machine | 7.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -41% |
| Water Heater | 8.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -43% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Madisonville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Madisonville, Kentucky | 174.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Hopkinsville, Kentucky | 233.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Henderson, Kentucky | 173.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Owensboro, Kentucky | 64 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Evansville, Indiana | 141.5 mg/L | 4.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Madisonville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Madisonville | 174.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Madisonville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Madisonville, Kentucky, in Hopkins County — the Hopkins County seat in the Western Kentucky Coalfield, a historic coal mining and tobacco community in western Kentucky's Pennyrile region — receives its municipal water from the Madisonville-Hopkins County Water District, which draws from Lake Horseshoe (an impoundment on the Tradewater River system in Hopkins County) or from the Tradewater River in western Kentucky.
The moderately hard 174.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 384.3 mg/L reflect the Tradewater River watershed's Western Kentucky Coalfield geology. The Tradewater River drains the Western Kentucky Coalfield — terrain underlain by the Pennsylvanian Carbondale Formation (coal measures with calcareous limestone lenses — the Stonefort Limestone, Herrin Coal Member), the Mississippian Salem Limestone, and the Mississippian Warsaw Formation (calcareous limestone). Coal mine drainage (Western Kentucky coalfield — historically significant acid mine drainage) adds iron and sulfate to the watershed, contributing to the elevated TDS alongside carbonate hardness from the Mississippian limestone bedrock.
At 174.5 mg/L, Madisonville's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium deposits. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.6 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Camp Breckinridge (former US Army training center in Union County, western Kentucky — AFFF legacy in the Green River watershed), the Western Kentucky coal and chemical manufacturing belt, and the Hopkins County industrial PFAS background contribute to Madisonville's readings.
Geology & Source: Madisonville in Hopkins County draws from the Madisonville-Hopkins County Water on Lake Horseshoe or Tradewater River — the Tradewater drains the Western Kentucky Coalfield (Pennsylvanian coal measures and limestone, Mississippian Salem-Warsaw limestone) — Kentucky Pennsylvanian and Mississippian carbonate coal measures drainage produces moderately hard water at 174.5 mg/L with TDS 384 mg/L in this Hopkins County Kentucky city.