Saint Matthews Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
river
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
341.6 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 Saint Matthews, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Saint Matthews | 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 Saint Matthews compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Saint Matthews, Kentucky | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Lyndon, Kentucky | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Jeffersonville, Indiana | 182 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Newburg, Kentucky | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Louisville, Kentucky | 135 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Saint Matthews compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Saint Matthews | ≈ 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 Saint Matthews's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
St. Matthews, Kentucky receives its drinking water from Louisville Water Company, the public utility serving Louisville Metro, parts of Bullitt County, and Oldham County. The primary source is the Ohio River, treated at two facilities: the Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant, which processes surface water pumped directly from the river, and the B.E. Payne Water Treatment Plant, which utilizes groundwater via riverbank filtration from the adjacent aquifer. Louisville Water delivers water to over 800,000 customers across the region.
The Ohio River watershed spans multiple states, fed by tributaries carving through Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, notably Ordovician limestones including the Lexington and Cynthiana formations in Kentucky's karst belt. These soluble carbonates contribute to a hard supply with elevated mineral content from natural dissolution. Riverbank filtration at the B.E. Payne plant draws from unconsolidated alluvial deposits overlying bedrock, amplifying dissolved ions without softening the profile and imparting a distinctly mineralized character to the water chemistry.
Hard water leads to noticeable scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Faucets and fixtures may develop limescale rings, while laundry and dishwashing require more detergent. Regular vinegar descaling and installing a water softener are recommended to prevent premature wear. The 2021 CCR reports pH averaging 8.7 and alkalinity at 69 ppm as CaCO3 with no exceedances of maximum contaminant levels; treatment involves coagulation, filtration, and disinfection with ongoing monitoring for inorganic contaminants from river sources.
Geology & Source: Ohio River watershed — Ordovician and Silurian limestone and dolomite of the Appalachian Basin and Bluegrass karst; riverbank filtration at B.E. Payne enhances mineral content; characteristically hard
Other Kentucky Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint Matthews's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Saint Matthews?
How does Saint Matthews compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Saint Matthews 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.