Nicholasville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

8.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

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

Appliance	In Nicholasville	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 Nicholasville compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Nicholasville, Kentucky	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	river
Lexington, Kentucky	≈ 180+ mg/L	10 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	river
Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky	≈ 120–179 mg/L	12 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Danville, Kentucky	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	river
Richmond, Kentucky	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Nicholasville compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Nicholasville	≈ 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 Nicholasville's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 468.2 mg/LpH: 8.3

Nicholasville in Jessamine County, Kentucky is served by the City of Nicholasville Water utility alongside Jessamine County Water District #1, Jessamine South Elkhorn Water, and portions managed by Kentucky American Water Company (KAWC). The city utility treats surface water primarily from the Kentucky River, while Jessamine County Water District #1 sources from Jacobson Reservoir and the Kentucky River. The city utility operates from 601 N. Main Street and the district office from 2225 Nicholasville Road, together covering the city and surrounding communities.

The Kentucky River watershed drains approximately 7,000 square miles across east-central Kentucky, carving through folded and faulted Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Key formations include Ordovician-age limestones of the High Bridge Group and the Lexington and Clays Ferry Formations, which underlie much of Jessamine County and influence water chemistry through mineral dissolution. However, river surface flow moderates this effect through shorter rock-water interaction and rainfall dilution, yielding a soft supply far less loaded with dissolved solids than harder groundwater regions of the Appalachian Plateau nearby.

Soft water in Nicholasville minimizes scale buildup, sparing appliances such as water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers from the calcification common in harder supplies. Laundry detergents and soaps lather efficiently without excess use. Routine cleaning is sufficient; descaling is not typically necessary. A water softener is not recommended, as it could over-treat already soft water and potentially increase pipe corrosion from reduced mineral buffering. The 2025 Consumer Confidence Report for Jessamine County Water District #1 confirms compliance with EPA standards, with no violations for lead or copper; surface water treatment involves coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. No specific PFAS data is highlighted, though upstream agricultural runoff poses a noted vulnerability.

Geology & Source: Kentucky River, Appalachian Plateau — Ordovician Lexington and Clays Ferry Formation limestones and shales; surface water dilution limits carbonate contact; soft supply typical of river-fed central Kentucky

Other Kentucky Water Reports

Lexington

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Lexington-Fayette

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Danville

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Richmond

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 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 Nicholasville's water safe to drink?

Yes. Nicholasville'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 Nicholasville?

Nicholasville'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 Nicholasville compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Nicholasville (≈ 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 Nicholasville 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.