Richmond Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.5 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
92.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.16
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 Richmond, your appliances are currently losing 8% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Richmond | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -11% |
| Washing Machine | 11.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -5% |
| Water Heater | 13.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -12% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Richmond compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Richmond, Kentucky | 60.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Berea, Kentucky | 157.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Winchester, Kentucky | 59 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | river |
| Lexington, Kentucky | 245.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Nicholasville, Kentucky | 199.5 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Richmond compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Richmond | 60.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Richmond's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Richmond, Kentucky, the Madison County seat — a major east Kentucky Bluegrass university city (Richmond is the Madison County seat and home of Eastern Kentucky University — a major regional comprehensive university in the Kentucky Bluegrass, one of the oldest and largest universities in Kentucky's eastern Bluegrass region), a diverse Madison County community with a significant African-American, Appalachian, and growing Hispanic-American population, adjacent to the Appalachian foothills transition zone, home of Fort Boonesborough State Park (adjacent to Richmond — the historic 1775 fortified settlement of Daniel Boone on the Kentucky River, one of the earliest permanent American settlements west of the Appalachians), and a growing Kentucky university city in the Richmond–Berea corridor — draws its municipal water supply from the Kentucky River via the City of Richmond Water Division. Water hardness in Richmond measures 60.5 mg/L — classified as very soft.
Richmond's very soft supply — remarkably soft for a Kentucky Bluegrass city given the underlying Ordovician limestone — reflects effective City of Richmond lime softening treatment. The Kentucky River (Dix River watershed) at Richmond–Madison County drains the Ordovician Lexington Limestone (calcareous-moderate carbonate). City of Richmond applies effective lime softening treatment, reducing hardness to the very soft 60.5 mg/L.
With hardness at 60.5 mg/L, Richmond residents enjoy very soft water. City of Richmond Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Kentucky DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Kentucky River (Dix River watershed) via the City of Richmond Water Division — the Madison County east Kentucky Bluegrass region (Ordovician calcareous-poor to moderate Lexington Limestone — the calcareous-moderate east Kentucky Inner Bluegrass carbonate; Kentucky River supply with effective treatment); very soft supply at 60.5 mg/L in Madison County.