Petersburg Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
179.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.27
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 Petersburg, your appliances are currently losing 14% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Petersburg | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -27% |
| Washing Machine | 9.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -18% |
| Water Heater | 11.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Petersburg compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Petersburg, Virginia | 103 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Colonial Heights, Virginia | 143 mg/L | 7.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Chester, Virginia | 197 mg/L | 10.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Hopewell, Virginia | 183 mg/L | 9.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Meadowbrook, Virginia | 164 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Petersburg compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Petersburg | 103 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Petersburg's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Petersburg, Virginia — a major independent city in south Virginia (Petersburg is one of Virginia's independent cities — a significant historic south Virginia city at the Appomattox River, approximately 25 miles south of Richmond; Petersburg is one of Virginia's most historically significant cities, the site of the ten-month Siege of Petersburg (1864–1865) — one of the longest siege operations in American military history, directly preceding Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House), home of the Petersburg National Battlefield (one of the most significant Civil War battlefield sites in the country — the complex of trenches, earthworks, and the famous Crater of the Battle of the Crater are preserved here), a diverse city with a significant African-American population (Petersburg has one of the highest percentages of African-American residents of any Virginia city), and home of Virginia State University (a historically Black university — one of Virginia's significant HBCUs) — draws its municipal water supply from the Appomattox River (Chesdin Reservoir) via the City of Petersburg Water Division. Water hardness in Petersburg measures 103 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Petersburg's moderate hardness reflects the Appomattox River watershed's calcareous-moderate Virginia Piedmont geology. The Appomattox River at Petersburg–Chesterfield County drains the Precambrian–Paleozoic Virginia Piedmont gneiss and schist (calcareous-moderate). City of Petersburg treatment produces the moderate 103 mg/L.
With hardness at 103 mg/L, Petersburg residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning is recommended. City of Petersburg Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Virginia DEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Appomattox River (Chesdin Reservoir) via the City of Petersburg Water Division — the City of Petersburg south Virginia Appomattox River corridor (Precambrian–Paleozoic calcareous-moderate Virginia Piedmont gneiss — the south Virginia Piedmont crystalline watershed; Appomattox River supply with effective treatment); moderately hard supply at 103 mg/L in the City of Petersburg.