Kentucky Water Hardness by County

Water in Kentucky has a median hardness of 120 mg/L as CaCO₃ — "hard" on the USGS scale — based on 28,806 measurements at 4,428 monitoring stations. McLean County has the state's hardest measured water (437 mg/L); Graves County the softest (23.5). Rank: #24 of the 50 states and D.C.

Kentucky water hardness map — what the numbers mean. Data verified 2026-07-22.

Of Kentucky's 104 measured counties, 28 very hard, 32 hard, 35 moderately hard, and 9 soft. The hardest are McLean County (437 mg/L), Jefferson County (395), and Taylor County (315). Graves County is the softest at 23.5 mg/L (soft).

About 74% of Kentucky's roughly 3.7 million residents in counties with gate-passing hardness data live where tap water is hard or worse.

Statewide, Kentucky's median works out to 7 grains per gallon and ranks #24 of the 50 states and D.C. Across 28,806 measurements at 4,428 stations — 10,626 of them since 2000 — the middle 80% of readings fall between 41 and 280 mg/L. The public record runs from 1906 to 2026.

See where Kentucky sits nationally on the national map, or what its number means on the hardness scale.

Download the Kentucky water hardness map (PNG) — Water hardness by county in Kentucky: 104 counties mapped from USGS/EPA data, statewide median 120 mg/L (hard); darker counties have harder water.

By county

Water hardness by county

The table lists all 104 measured Kentucky counties, hardest first. Their medians span 437 mg/L in McLean County to 23.5 in Graves County — a 18.6× range. 16 more Kentucky counties lack gate-passing data.

County water hardness, hardest first — median mg/L as CaCO₃.
CountyMedianBandResultsSitesNewest
McLean County437Very hard42142007
Jefferson County395Very hard1,1481942024
Taylor County315Very hard47242006
Trimble County300Very hard33182005
Metcalfe County295Very hard85652007
Meade County290Very hard2131162019
Campbell County280Very hard51282005
Hopkins County254.5Very hard380662007
Breathitt County253Very hard281382007
Breckinridge County246Very hard117752007
Oldham County240Very hard78202019
Anderson County226Very hard93132007
Shelby County220Very hard86192000
Grant County215.5Very hard38122004
Robertson County211Very hard1542005
Woodford County210Very hard70191999
Bourbon County207.5Very hard162152007
Crittenden County205.5Very hard63282006
Spencer County203Very hard85102007
Christian County200Very hard105462007
Hardin County199Very hard4961812007
Bullitt County197Very hard493202007
Washington County196.5Very hard8862007
Nelson County195Very hard109202005
Caldwell County190Very hard678302023
Logan County184Very hard174542007
Barren County181Very hard91352007
Daviess County180Very hard210812019
Floyd County179.5Hard260262007
Pike County177Hard8621082026
Madison County164Hard149202007
Owen County163Hard88162007
Fulton County160Hard81702014
Larue County160Hard126482006
Martin County160Hard97462007
Warren County159Hard311532007
Marion County157.5Hard1432000
Grayson County155Hard38212007
Garrard County151Hard141162007
Union County150.1Hard265392024
Bath County149Hard97132007
Trigg County149Hard582452023
Estill County148.5Hard150322007
Leslie County145Hard89202007
Green County144Hard418482007
Gallatin County141Hard759192024
Clinton County140Hard141122014
Henderson County140Hard315942007
Muhlenberg County140Hard115352007
Webster County140Hard250292007
Boone County139.6Hard59222016
Butler County136Hard361152007
Bracken County134Hard19792024
Cumberland County132Hard76122005
Hart County130Hard897852007
Henry County130Hard247172004
Hancock County128.5Hard188412024
Lawrence County128Hard391402007
Allen County120Hard202792007
Boyd County120Hard265242007
Franklin County110Moderately hard785252007
Pendleton County110Moderately hard781112007
Greenup County109Moderately hard530282024
Harrison County108.5Moderately hard105132007
Ballard County104Moderately hard143502024
Knox County103Moderately hard36162005
Ohio County103Moderately hard306432007
Elliott County100Moderately hard52122007
Johnson County100Moderately hard182352007
Lee County100Moderately hard191152007
Clay County98Moderately hard164342007
Livingston County98Moderately hard525212024
Wayne County98Moderately hard317192014
Carter County97Moderately hard147202007
Rockcastle County95.8Moderately hard102122007
Casey County95.5Moderately hard842006
Lyon County95.5Moderately hard241192023
Letcher County94Moderately hard1621422007
Pulaski County92Moderately hard550202014
Edmonson County90.8Moderately hard822582007
Powell County90Moderately hard105132007
Fleming County89Moderately hard94432005
Morgan County87.6Moderately hard122162007
Owsley County81.9Moderately hard134102007
Monroe County81.3Moderately hard7442007
Adair County80.8Moderately hard131182007
Jackson County79.8Moderately hard119152007
Russell County76.7Moderately hard200122014
Rowan County75.2Moderately hard38122005
Whitley County73.3Moderately hard812222022
Laurel County71.8Moderately hard429332022
McCracken County65.5Moderately hard540402023
McCreary County64Moderately hard935522014
Marshall County62Moderately hard3371512013
Menifee County62Moderately hard6692007
Harlan County59Soft690512022
Magoffin County55Soft115192000
Bell County49Soft1,9811342007
Lewis County46.1Soft104352019
Wolfe County44Soft99162007
Hickman County34Soft165632007
Carlisle County33.8Soft160472007
Calloway County31Soft2251602009
Graves County23.5Soft3121712018

ZIP codes

ZIP codes in Kentucky

The ZIP codes below are grouped by the Kentucky county each mostly falls within (by land area). Each ZIP takes that county's measured median — shown in the group header — so this is a ZIP-to-county guide, not a separate reading for every ZIP. To check the water system serving a specific address, use the lookup.

Key: a † after a ZIP means it has no mapped community water system — usually a private-well area. Plain ZIPs are served by a mapped community water system.

McLean County · 437 mg/L · Very hard

423224232742350†42352†42371†42372†

Jefferson County · 395 mg/L · Very hard

4002340025400414011840202402034020440205402064020740208402094021040211402124021340214402154021640217402184021940220402214022240223402284022940231402414024240243402454025840272402804029140299

Taylor County · 315 mg/L · Very hard

4271842733†42758

Trimble County · 300 mg/L · Very hard

40006†4004540055

Metcalfe County · 295 mg/L · Very hard

4212442129†42154†4216642214

Meade County · 290 mg/L · Very hard

40104†4010840117†40142†4015540157†40161†40175

Campbell County · 280 mg/L · Very hard

410014100741059410714107341074410754107641085

Hopkins County · 254.5 mg/L · Very hard

424084241042413†42431424364244042441†424424245342464†

Breathitt County · 253 mg/L · Very hard

41310†41317†41339†4134841366†41385†41390

Breckinridge County · 246 mg/L · Very hard

40111†40115†40119†4014040143†40144†40145†401464015240170†40171†40176†40178

Oldham County · 240 mg/L · Very hard

40010400144002640031†400564005940077

Anderson County · 226 mg/L · Very hard

40342

Shelby County · 220 mg/L · Very hard

40003†40022†400654006740076†

Grant County · 215.5 mg/L · Very hard

41010†410304103541052†41097†

Robertson County · 211 mg/L · Very hard

41064

Woodford County · 210 mg/L · Very hard

40347†40383†

Bourbon County · 207.5 mg/L · Very hard

403484035740361†

Crittenden County · 205.5 mg/L · Very hard

4203742064

Spencer County · 203 mg/L · Very hard

40046†40071†

Christian County · 200 mg/L · Very hard

42215422174223242236†4224042254†4226242266

Hardin County · 199 mg/L · Very hard

401214016040162427014271242724†4273242740†42776†42788

Bullitt County · 197 mg/L · Very hard

400474010940110401504016540177

Washington County · 196.5 mg/L · Very hard

40040†400614006940078

Nelson County · 195 mg/L · Very hard

40004400084001240013†40020400514005240107†

Caldwell County · 190 mg/L · Very hard

42411†42445

Logan County · 184 mg/L · Very hard

422024220642256†42265†42276

Barren County · 181 mg/L · Very hard

42123421274213042131†42141†42156

Daviess County · 180 mg/L · Very hard

42301†42303423554235642366†42376†

Floyd County · 179.5 mg/L · Hard

41216†416014160241603416044160541606†4160741612†416154161641619416214162241630†4163141635†41636†41642†416454164741649†416504165141653†41655†4166041663416664166741669

Pike County · 177 mg/L · Hard

4150141503†4151241513415144151941522†41524†4152641527415284153141534†4153541538†41539†41540†415434154441547†4154841553†41554†4155541557†41558†4155941560†4156241563415644156641567†41568†41571†4157241659†

Madison County · 164 mg/L · Hard

40385404034040440475

Owen County · 163 mg/L · Hard

40355†403594036341046†41098

Fulton County · 160 mg/L · Hard

4204142050†

Larue County · 160 mg/L · Hard

4271642748†

Martin County · 160 mg/L · Hard

4120341214†41224†4123141250†41262†41267†

Warren County · 159 mg/L · Hard

42101†421034210442122†42159†4217042171†42274

Marion County · 157.5 mg/L · Hard

40009400334003740049†40060†4006240063†40328

Grayson County · 155 mg/L · Hard

42721427264275442762

Garrard County · 151 mg/L · Hard

40444†40461

Union County · 150.1 mg/L · Hard

4243742459†42461†42462†

Bath County · 149 mg/L · Hard

40334†40358†4036040371†40374†

Trigg County · 149 mg/L · Hard

42211†

Estill County · 148.5 mg/L · Hard

4033640472

Leslie County · 145 mg/L · Hard

40803†40808†40816†40827†4084040844†408584086840874†40979†41714†4174941762†41764†4176641775†41776†41777†

Green County · 144 mg/L · Hard

42743†4276442782

Gallatin County · 141 mg/L · Hard

41086†41095†

Clinton County · 140 mg/L · Hard

42602

Henderson County · 140 mg/L · Hard

4240642420†42451†42452†42458

Muhlenberg County · 140 mg/L · Hard

4232142323423244232542326†423304233242337†42339†4234442345†4236742374

Webster County · 140 mg/L · Hard

42404424094244442450424554245642463†

Boone County · 139.6 mg/L · Hard

41005†410424104841080†4109141092†41094

Butler County · 136 mg/L · Hard

4225242261†42273†42275†

Bracken County · 134 mg/L · Hard

4100241004†41043

Cumberland County · 132 mg/L · Hard

42717†42759

Hart County · 130 mg/L · Hard

427134272242729†4274642749†42757†4276542784†

Henry County · 130 mg/L · Hard

40007†40011400194003640050†4005740058400684007040075†

Hancock County · 128.5 mg/L · Hard

4234842351†42368

Lawrence County · 128 mg/L · Hard

41124†41159†41180†412014123041232†41264

Allen County · 120 mg/L · Hard

4212042153†42164

Boyd County · 120 mg/L · Hard

41101411024112941168†

Franklin County · 110 mg/L · Moderately hard

40601†

Pendleton County · 110 mg/L · Moderately hard

4100641033†41040†

Greenup County · 109 mg/L · Moderately hard

4112141139411444116941174†41175†41183

Harrison County · 108.5 mg/L · Moderately hard

4100341031

Ballard County · 104 mg/L · Moderately hard

4202242024†4205342056†42060†42087†

Knox County · 103 mg/L · Moderately hard

40734†40771†4090340906409154092140923†4093540943409464094940953†40982†4099540997†

Ohio County · 103 mg/L · Moderately hard

42320†42328†42333†42338423434234742349†4235442361423694237042378†

Elliott County · 100 mg/L · Moderately hard

4114941171

Johnson County · 100 mg/L · Moderately hard

4120441219†412224122641234412384124041254†412554125641257412604126341265†412684127141274†

Lee County · 100 mg/L · Moderately hard

4131141397

Clay County · 98 mg/L · Moderately hard

409144094140962†40972

Livingston County · 98 mg/L · Moderately hard

42028†4204542047†4205842078†4208142083

Wayne County · 98 mg/L · Moderately hard

42518†4260342633†

Carter County · 97 mg/L · Moderately hard

4113241142†4114341146†4116441181†

Rockcastle County · 95.8 mg/L · Moderately hard

40409†40445†4045640460†

Casey County · 95.5 mg/L · Moderately hard

40437†4251642528†42539†425414256542566†

Lyon County · 95.5 mg/L · Moderately hard

4203842055†

Letcher County · 94 mg/L · Moderately hard

40826†40862†4151741537†418044181041812†4181541819†41821†4182441825418264183241833†418354183741838†4184041845†41848†418494185541858

Pulaski County · 92 mg/L · Moderately hard

4250142503425194253342544†4255342567

Edmonson County · 90.8 mg/L · Moderately hard

42160†4216342207†4221042259†42285†

Powell County · 90 mg/L · Moderately hard

403124037640380

Fleming County · 89 mg/L · Moderately hard

410394104141049†41093†

Morgan County · 87.6 mg/L · Moderately hard

41332413524140841421†4142541472

Owsley County · 81.9 mg/L · Moderately hard

40983†41314413514136441386†

Monroe County · 81.3 mg/L · Moderately hard

42133421404215142157†42167

Adair County · 80.8 mg/L · Moderately hard

427154272842741†4274242753†

Jackson County · 79.8 mg/L · Moderately hard

4040240434404474048140486

Russell County · 76.7 mg/L · Moderately hard

4262942642†

Rowan County · 75.2 mg/L · Moderately hard

40313†40351

Whitley County · 73.3 mg/L · Moderately hard

407014075940763†40769†

Laurel County · 71.8 mg/L · Moderately hard

40729†40737407404074140744†

McCracken County · 65.5 mg/L · Moderately hard

4200142003†42086

McCreary County · 64 mg/L · Moderately hard

4263142634†426354263842647†4264942653†

Marshall County · 62 mg/L · Moderately hard

42025420294204442048

Menifee County · 62 mg/L · Moderately hard

40316†4032240346†40387

Harlan County · 59 mg/L · Soft

40801408064080740810†4081540818†40819†4082040823†40824†40828†40829†4083040831†40843†40847408494085440855†40863†40865†4087040873†40927†40964†

Magoffin County · 55 mg/L · Soft

4146441465†41632†

Bell County · 49 mg/L · Soft

40813†40845408564090240913†409394094040958†409654097740988†

Lewis County · 46.1 mg/L · Soft

4113541141†41166†41179†41189†

Wolfe County · 44 mg/L · Soft

4130141360†41365

Hickman County · 34 mg/L · Soft

42031†42032

Carlisle County · 33.8 mg/L · Soft

42021†42023†42035†

Calloway County · 31 mg/L · Soft

4202042036†42049†42054†42071†42076†

Graves County · 23.5 mg/L · Soft

42027†42039†42040†42051420614206642069†42079420824208542088†

† 272 ZIP codes are not served by a mapped community water system — most are private-well areas. See well water hardness.

Check any ZIP's utility and hardness →

Source

Groundwater vs surface water

Kentucky's groundwater measures harder than its surface water — 230 mg/L across 4,408 samples versus 116 across 24,075, about 2× harder. Wells draw from groundwater, so well owners in Kentucky tend to see the harder number — 230 mg/L, very hard. Groundwater readings there run 27 to 705 mg/L across the middle 80% of samples. The comparison draws on 2,985 groundwater and 1,426 surface-water monitoring sites; 206 readings above 2,000 mg/L were logged but held out of the medians as outliers.

Groundwater (wells)

230 mg/L as CaCO₃ · 4,408 results at 2,985 stations.

Surface water (rivers, lakes)

116 mg/L as CaCO₃ · 24,075 results at 1,426 stations.

Groundwater measures about 2× harder than surface water here.

Chemistry

Water chemistry in Kentucky

Beyond the hardness number, Kentucky's water carries a fuller chemical signature — here is how its measured parameters compare to national benchmarks.

TDS

148 mg/L · n=2,425

148 mg/L — below the national county median of 226.

pH

7.7 pH · n=3,276

pH 7.7 — within the EPA secondary range of 6.5–8.5, on the alkaline side.

Alkalinity

60 mg/L as CaCO3 · n=4,188

60 mg/L — modest buffering capacity.

Calcium : Magnesium

32.4 : 8 mg/L ≈ 4.05 : 1 · n=11,904

Calcium is about 71% of Kentucky's hardness (32.4 mg/L Ca to 8 mg/L Mg), a little more calcium-rich than the national ~68% calcium share.

Parameter medians may include a small share of quality-control samples; the hardness lane is fully QC-filtered.

Aquifers

Major aquifers under Kentucky

One aquifer system supply much of Kentucky's measured groundwater.

  • Alluvial aquifers — median 322 mg/L across 37 samples at 24 sites: very hard.

Together these systems account for 37 measured samples at 24 sites. Aquifer medians pool samples across a whole system and can mask local variation — see the national aquifer map for how these compare across states.

Trend

Hardness over time

1940s2020s410

Kentucky's decade median moved from 410 mg/L in the 1940s to 118 in the 2020s. Over the series, the decade median peaked at 410 mg/L in the 1940s and bottomed at 71 in the 1990s. Decade medians reflect where and what agencies sampled in each era, not just changes in the water itself.

Scale

Where Kentucky sits on the scale

On the USGS scale, Kentucky's 120 mg/L is hard — 7 grains per gallon, above the 120 mg/L hard cutoff, below very hard.

SoftModerately hardHardVery hard60 · 3.5 gpg120 · 7.0 gpg180 · 10.5 gpg120 mg/L — Hard
Harder than 45% of the 2,977 measured county medians.

At 120 mg/L (7 gpg), water-softener owners in Kentucky typically set their unit to this hardness — settings calculator.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is Kentucky's water hard?
Kentucky's median hardness is 120 mg/L as CaCO₃, "hard" on the USGS scale and below the national county median of 140 mg/L. About 74% of residents in measured counties have hard-or-worse water.
Which county in Kentucky has the hardest water?
McLean County, with a median of 437 mg/L as CaCO₃ across 42 measurements.
Is well water harder than city water in Kentucky?
Groundwater measures harder here — about 2× the surface water — so wells tend to run harder (groundwater 230 vs surface water 116 mg/L).
How do I find my exact hardness in Kentucky?
Search your ZIP on the lookup tool, read your utility's Consumer Confidence Report, or test at home with a kit.
Is Kentucky's water harder than the national average?
No. Kentucky's median of 120 mg/L is below the national county median of 140 mg/L; it ranks #24 of the 50 states and D.C.

Compare

States with similar hardness

Two states measure closest to Kentucky's 120 mg/L: District of Columbia at 113 mg/L and Idaho at 130 mg/L. Kentucky measures harder than 54% of states. Browse the full ranking on the statistics page.

More: hardness scale · check your address · national statistics · the national map.

By . Source: USGS/EPA Water Quality Portal — 28,806 Kentucky measurements. Data last verified . Methodology.

Cite this page: “Kentucky Water Hardness by County.” Hard Water Map. Retrieved 2026-07-22, https://hardwatermap.com/water-hardness/kentucky/