Hardness
Moderately Hard
68.6 PPM · 4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Decatur, AL 35603
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Morgan County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Decatur, Municipal Ub Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Morgan County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0028 mg/L
18% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 77,103 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
68.6 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
68.6
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 68.6 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
33
Nearest site
7.6 mi
Observation range
Jul 30, 2019–Aug 28, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: EHR-LUS20 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 35603 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Decatur median
75 PPM
6 PPM lower3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 68.6–99.6 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
31 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)
0.0028 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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 0.0028
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 16
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARBON, TOTAL | AL0001092 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Nov 22, 2022 |
| Arsenic | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Cadmium | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Chromium | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| CYANIDE | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Fluoride | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Antimony, Total | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Selenium | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Nitrate | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Barium | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Mercury | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Beryllium, Total | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Nitrite | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Jul 19, 2022 |
| Nickel | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Thallium, Total | AL0001092 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
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 Decatur ZIP 35603 using 68.6 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Decatur
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Decatur
Is tap water safe in Decatur?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 68.6 PPM, or 4 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.