Blacksburg Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
199.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.29
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 Blacksburg, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Blacksburg | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -29% |
| Washing Machine | 9.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -20% |
| Water Heater | 11.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -25% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Blacksburg compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Blacksburg, Virginia | 109 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Christiansburg, Virginia | 92.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Radford, Virginia | 82.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Salem, Virginia | 116 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Cave Spring, Virginia | 156.5 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Blacksburg compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Blacksburg | 109 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Blacksburg's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Blacksburg, Virginia, in Montgomery County — home of Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — a major Appalachian Virginia research university, known for engineering, computer science, and agriculture programs, Virginia's largest university by enrollment), a vibrant college town in the New River Valley, and a significant Virginia tech and innovation corridor adjacent to the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center — draws its municipal water supply from the Stroubles Creek and Ellett Valley watershed via the Town of Blacksburg Water Division. Water hardness in Blacksburg measures 109 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Blacksburg's moderate hardness reflects the Montgomery County Virginia Valley and Ridge geology. The Stroubles Creek watershed drains the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Valley — a mixed terrain including Cambrian Elbrook Formation and Ordovician Beekmantown Group calcareous dolomite (the Valley and Ridge calcareous platform, moderately calcareous dolomite formations of the Appalachian Valley carbonate zone) and Devonian shale and sandstone of the Appalachian Plateau margins. The Town of Blacksburg Water Division applies effective water treatment, producing the moderate 109 mg/L — comfortable for a Virginia college town.
At 109 mg/L, Blacksburg residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — periodic cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. Town of Blacksburg Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Virginia DEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Ellett Valley (New River tributary) and Stroubles Creek watershed via the Town of Blacksburg Water Division — the Montgomery County Virginia New River Valley (Cambrian–Ordovician calcareous limestone and dolomite of the Valley and Ridge Province and Devonian calcareous-moderate shale Appalachian Plateau); moderately hard supply at 109 mg/L in Montgomery County.