Fairmont Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
330 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
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 Fairmont, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fairmont | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -46% |
| Washing Machine | 8.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -33% |
| Water Heater | 9.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -36% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fairmont compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fairmont, West Virginia | 150 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Morgantown, West Virginia | 124 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Clarksburg, West Virginia | 114.5 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Washington, Pennsylvania | 150 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Wheeling, West Virginia | 197 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Fairmont compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fairmont | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fairmont's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fairmont, West Virginia, in Marion County — the Marion County seat adjacent to Clarksburg and Morgantown, a historic coal-mining and industrial city on the Monongahela River in north-central West Virginia — receives its municipal water from the Fairmont Water Works, drawing from the Monongahela River at the Fairmont water treatment plant.
The moderately hard 150 mg/L hardness and TDS of 330.0 mg/L reflect the Monongahela River's Allegheny Plateau mine-drainage and carbonate character at Fairmont. The Monongahela River above Fairmont drains the Allegheny Plateau of north-central West Virginia — the Pennsylvanian Allegheny Formation (coal measures, pyrite, calcareous carbonaceous shale), the Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation (calcareous conglomeratic sandstone), and the Devonian Chemung Group (calcareous siltstone-shale). The West Virginia coal mine drainage contributes elevated sulfate and hardness to the Monongahela, producing the elevated TDS characteristic of the Fairmont supply.
At 150 mg/L, Fairmont's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium deposits. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 7.3 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the DuPont Washington Works (Parkersburg, WV — PFOA legacy upstream on the Ohio River/Monongahela watershed), the Marion County industrial complex, and the West Virginia Monongahela Valley PFAS background contribute to Fairmont's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Fairmont in Marion County draws from the Fairmont Water Works on the Monongahela River (Marion County) — the Monongahela drains the Allegheny Plateau (Pennsylvanian Pottsville and Allegheny Formation sandstone-shale, Devonian Chemung Formation) and coal measures (Marion County) — West Virginia Allegheny Plateau Pennsylvanian coal-measure carbonate drainage produces moderately hard water at 150 mg/L with TDS 330 mg/L in this Marion County West Virginia city.