Hardness
Moderately Hard
83 PPM · 4.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Anchorage, AK 99506
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Anchorage Municipality.
3 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Moa Municipality Of Anchorage
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Anchorage Municipality
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
3 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0012 mg/L
8% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 221,351 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
83 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
83
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
4.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 83 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
1
Nearest site
74.6 mi
Observation range
Jan 27, 2016–Feb 3, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: TALKEETNA R NR TALKEETNA AK (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 99506 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Anchorage median
83 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 83–83 PPM
Alaska median
83 PPM
About the same18 indexed ZIP readings · Range 36.7–199 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass3 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0012 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2026
Copper (CU90)
2.76 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2022
Numerical coverage
4 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0012
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.76
EPA limit 1.3
Arsenic
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.011
EPA limit 0.01
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.068
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 416
- Health-based
- 19
- Active health-based
- 3
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AK2210891 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AK2210891 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AK2210485 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Nov 20, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AK2213792 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AK2210891 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AK2210891 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AK2210891 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | AK2212819 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AK2210891 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Toxaphene | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Dinoseb | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Carbofuran | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| HEXACHLOROBENZENE | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Diquat | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| OXAMYL | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LASSO | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Heptachlor | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Simazine | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE | AK2210891 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Anchorage ZIP 99506 using 83 PPM nearby hardness and 4 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), Arsenic, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) have a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
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Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Anchorage
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Anchorage
Is tap water safe in Anchorage?+
EPA ECHO reports 3 active health-based violations among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 83 PPM, or 4.9 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.