Radcliff Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
13.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
573.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.61
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 Radcliff, your appliances are currently losing 30% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Radcliff | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -75% |
| Washing Machine | 5.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -57% |
| Water Heater | 6.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -57% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Radcliff compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Radcliff, Kentucky | 228 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Elizabethtown, Kentucky | 100 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Valley Station, Kentucky | 126.5 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky | 165.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Shively, Kentucky | 239.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Radcliff compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Radcliff | 228 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Radcliff's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Radcliff, Kentucky, in Hardin County adjacent to Fort Knox — one of Kentucky's fastest-growing cities, a primarily military family community immediately adjacent to the United States Bullion Depository and Fort Knox Army installation — receives its municipal water from the Radcliff Utilities or the Hardin County Water District, which draws from the Salt River or its Rough Creek tributary watershed, treating water from the Hardin County-area carbonate plateau supply system. Radcliff's water system serves the combined military and civilian population of this rapidly expanding Hardin County community.
The very hard 228 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 573.5 mg/L reflect Hardin County's position in the Western Kentucky carbonate plateau — the same Mississippian karst terrain producing very hard water throughout Central Kentucky. The Salt River and Rough Creek drain Hardin County's limestone and dolomite uplands underlain by the Mississippian St. Louis Limestone, Ste. Genevieve Formation, and Salem-Warsaw Formation carbonate sequence — thick, highly soluble Mississippian marine carbonates that supply massive calcium and magnesium bicarbonate loads to the surface drainage system through karst spring discharge. This Mississippian carbonate karst bedrock makes Hardin County one of the harder water zones in Kentucky.
At 228 mg/L, Radcliff residents face very hard water — one of the harder profiles in the Kentucky data. Scale builds rapidly in kettles and coffee machines within weeks, dishwashers require rinse aid or softener treatment, and bathroom fixtures develop persistent calcium deposits. Descaling appliances every four to six weeks is the practical cadence. A whole-house water softener is strongly recommended for Hardin County homes at this hardness level. The PFAS level of 6.9 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Fort Knox Army installation's extensive vehicle maintenance, training range, and airfield operations, combined with PFAS-containing firefighting foam (AFFF) use, represent a primary PFAS source for Hardin County water supplies.
Geology & Source: Radcliff in Hardin County draws from the Hardin County Water District treating the Salt River or Rough Creek watershed — the Salt River drains Hardin County over Mississippian St. Louis Limestone and Ste. Genevieve Formation carbonate bedrock of the Western Kentucky karst plateau — Mississippian carbonate drainage from the Kentucky karst platform produces very hard water at 228 mg/L with TDS 574 mg/L in this Fort Knox-adjacent community.