Teays Valley Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
586.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.59
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 Teays Valley, your appliances are currently losing 29% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Teays Valley | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -73% |
| Washing Machine | 5.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -54% |
| Water Heater | 6.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -55% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Teays Valley compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Teays Valley, West Virginia | 220 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| South Charleston, West Virginia | 101 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Charleston, West Virginia | 82.5 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Huntington, West Virginia | 78 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Ashland, Kentucky | 61 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Teays Valley compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Teays Valley | 220 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Teays Valley's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Teays Valley, West Virginia, in Putnam County — a Putnam County community adjacent to Hurricane and St. Albans on the Kanawha River in west-central West Virginia — receives its water from West Virginia American Water, drawing from the Kanawha River (Putnam County) through the west-central West Virginia distribution.
The very hard 220 mg/L hardness and TDS of 586.7 mg/L reflect the west-central West Virginia Putnam County Kanawha River supply's very hard calcareous character — the Kanawha River drains the Appalachian Plateau's Pennsylvanian Kanawha coal measures and the Greenbrier Limestone's highly calcareous karst, producing very hard water with elevated TDS from industrial corridor dissolution (the Kanawha Valley is historically the center of the West Virginia chemical industry). The Kanawha River at Putnam County — Mississippian Greenbrier Limestone (highly calcareous — primary hardness contributor from karst), Pennsylvanian Kanawha Formation (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Kanawha alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 220 mg/L with TDS 587, Teays Valley's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended to prevent rapid scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 9.7 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Kanawha Valley chemical industry corridor (Putnam-Kanawha Counties — industrial PFAS and PFOA) is a primary contributor to Teays Valley's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Teays Valley in Putnam County draws from the West Virginia American Water on the Kanawha River (Putnam County, west-central West Virginia) — the Kanawha River at Putnam County drains the Appalachian Plateau (Pennsylvanian Kanawha Formation — slightly calcareous) and Mississippian Greenbrier Limestone (highly calcareous) — West Virginia Putnam County Kanawha River Pennsylvanian-Mississippian calcareous supply produces very hard water at 220 mg/L with TDS 586.7 mg/L.