Hardness
Hard
149 PPM · 8.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Cottonwood, AL 36320
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Houston County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Cottonwood Water Works
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Houston County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.0017 mg/L
11% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 3,570 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
149 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
149
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 149 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
35
Nearest site
9.7 mi
Observation range
Jan 25, 2021–Jan 14, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Well Q 12 310752085271301 Houston Cnty AL (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 36320 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Cottonwood median
149 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 149–149 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
111 PPM higher406 indexed ZIP readings · Range 7.4–2810 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0017 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0017
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 34
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | AL0000677 | Unaddressed | Dec 7, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | AL0000677 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Aug 21, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | AL0000677 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Toxaphene | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Glyphosate | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Dinoseb | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Chlordane | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LASSO | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Heptachlor | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Methoxychlor | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Atrazine | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| HEXACHLOROBENZENE | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Heptachlor epoxide | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Carbofuran | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Diquat | AL0000677 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through 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 Cottonwood ZIP 36320 using 149 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
149 PPM is 1× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS has 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.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Cottonwood
Is tap water safe in Cottonwood?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation 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 149 PPM, or 8.7 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 149 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.