Hardness
Hard
138 PPM · 8.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Dothan, AL 36305
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.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Dothan Utilities, City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Houston 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
0.0032 mg/L
21% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 97,146 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
138 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
138
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 138 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
27
Nearest site
5.5 mi
Observation range
Jun 24, 2019–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 36305 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Dothan median
141 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 138–142 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
100 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)
0.0032 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 0.0032
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 9
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AL0000689 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| TTHM | AL0000681 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0000681 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Radium-228 | AL0001755 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | AL0001755 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Radium-226 | AL0001755 | Archived | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | AL0001755 | Archived | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AL0001755 | Resolved | Apr 11, 2022through Apr 11, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AL0000689 | Resolved | Apr 11, 2022through Apr 11, 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 Dothan ZIP 36305 using 138 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
138 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Dothan
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Dothan
Is tap water safe in Dothan?+
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 138 PPM, or 8.1 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 138 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.