How does Hopewell's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Hopewell (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Hopewell Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

6.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

462.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Hopewell, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Hopewell	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 Hopewell compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Hopewell, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	25.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Colonial Heights, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	23 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Petersburg, Virginia	103 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Chester, Virginia	55 mg/L	15 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Meadowbrook, Virginia	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Hopewell compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Hopewell	≈ 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 Hopewell's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 462.8 mg/LpH: 6.6

Hopewell's public water supply is operated by American Water (Virginia American Water Company). The utility draws raw drinking water from the Appomattox River at its confluence with the James River in Hopewell, Virginia, serving the city and surrounding areas in Prince George County. The water undergoes treatment at the utility's facilities before distribution to residential and commercial customers throughout the service area.

The Appomattox River watershed is located in the Piedmont physiographic province of Virginia, characterized by metamorphic bedrock including schist and phyllite. As surface water flows through this region, it dissolves minerals from the surrounding rock formations, contributing to the moderately mineralized character of the supply. The James River confluence adds additional hydrological complexity to the source water chemistry.

At moderately hard levels, Hopewell residents may notice mineral scale buildup on fixtures, reduced efficiency of water heaters and appliances, and soap residue on dishes and skin. While a water softener is not strictly necessary, many households find one beneficial for reducing maintenance and extending appliance lifespan. According to American Water's 2025 Annual Water Quality Report, third-party assessments have identified seven contaminants exceeding health guidelines in Hopewell's water, including hexavalent chromium (chromium-6), radium, trihalomethanes, chloroform, dichloroacetic acid, and atrazine; the utility treats the water to meet EPA legal standards, though some constituents remain above non-regulatory health advisory levels.

Geology & Source: Appomattox River-James River confluence, Virginia Piedmont province; metamorphic bedrock — schist and phyllite — dissolves minerals as surface water flows through watershed, producing moderately hard supply

Other Virginia Water Reports

Colonial Heights

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Petersburg

103 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Chester

55 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Meadowbrook

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hopewell's water safe to drink?

Yes. Hopewell's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Hopewell?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Hopewell's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Hopewell compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Hopewell (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Hopewell is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

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.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

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.

Measured

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.

Modelled

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.

Calculated

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.