Valley Station Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.4 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
242.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.34
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 Valley Station, your appliances are currently losing 17% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Valley Station | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -36% |
| Washing Machine | 8.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -26% |
| Water Heater | 10.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -30% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Valley Station compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ 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 |
| New Albany, Indiana | 120.5 mg/L | 3.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Louisville, Kentucky | 143.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Valley Station compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Valley Station | 126.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Valley Station's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Valley Station, Kentucky, in Jefferson County in the southwestern Louisville metropolitan area along the Ohio River bottomlands — a large Jefferson County suburban community near Shively and Pleasure Ridge Park — receives its municipal water from the Louisville Water Company, which draws from the Ohio River at its Crescent Hill and B.E. Payne treatment facilities. The Louisville Water Company is one of the nation's oldest water utilities, recognized for its historic Crescent Hill reservoir and filtration plant infrastructure serving Louisville and Jefferson County.
The moderately hard 126.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 242.8 mg/L reflect the Ohio River's mixed watershed geology as it reaches the Louisville reach. The Ohio River at Louisville receives tributary inputs from multiple geological provinces: the Appalachian Plateau (Pennsylvanian sandstone, shale, and coal beds of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio), the Bluegrass Region (Ordovician limestone and dolomite characteristic of central Kentucky), and the Valley and Ridge Province tributaries draining Cambrian and Ordovician carbonate formations. The combined carbonate inputs from the Bluegrass and Valley and Ridge sources produce a moderately hard river supply that the Louisville Water Company treats for taste, turbidity, and pathogens without reducing the natural mineral content.
At 126.5 mg/L, Valley Station's water is moderately hard — consistent with the Louisville Jefferson County supply profile. Scale builds in kettles and coffee machines over months, the dishwasher benefits from rinse aid, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium deposits. Quarterly descaling of heating appliances is the standard schedule. The PFAS level of 4.5 ppt is moderate for the Louisville area — the Ohio River's industrial upstream drainage (including Cincinnati's manufacturing corridor) contributes to PFAS in the Louisville supply, while the Louisville Water Company's comprehensive treatment moderates the finished product.
Geology & Source: Valley Station in Jefferson County draws from the Louisville Water Company treating the Ohio River — the Ohio River at Louisville drains the Appalachian Plateau (Pennsylvanian sandstone and coal), the Bluegrass Region (Ordovician limestone), and Valley and Ridge carbonate tributaries — moderate carbonate tributary drainage from Kentucky and southern Indiana produces moderately hard water at 126.5 mg/L with TDS 243 mg/L in this Louisville suburb.