Hardness
Moderately Hard
103 PPM · 6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Elba, AL 36323
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Coffee County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Elba, The Ww And Eb Of The City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Coffee 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
0.0014 mg/L
9% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 5,361 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
103 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
103
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 103 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
13
Nearest site
41.9 mi
Observation range
Jun 24, 2019–Jan 14, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
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 36323 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Elba median
103 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 103–103 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
65 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0014 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2022
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0014
EPA limit 0.015
Carbon tetrachloride
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.009
EPA limit 0.005
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 31
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | AL0000295 | Resolved | Dec 10, 2023through Dec 11, 2023 |
| Public Notice | AL0000295 | Resolved | Nov 14, 2023through Dec 21, 2023 |
| Public Notice | AL0000295 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Jan 11, 2024 |
| Carbon tetrachlorideHealth-basedReported 0.009 MG/L · MCL 0.005 | AL0000295 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Carbon tetrachlorideHealth-basedReported 0.009 MG/L · MCL 0.005 | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Public Notice | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jun 3, 2023through Jun 7, 2023 |
| Public Notice | AL0000295 | Resolved | May 4, 2023through Jan 11, 2024 |
| Carbon tetrachlorideHealth-basedReported 0.012 MG/L · MCL 0.005 | AL0000295 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AL0000295 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2023 |
| Carbon tetrachlorideHealth-basedReported 0.035 MG/L · MCL 0.005 | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Vinyl chloride | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Trichloroethylene | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Benzene | AL0000295 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 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 Elba ZIP 36323 using 103 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Carbon tetrachloride 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 Elba
Is tap water safe in Elba?+
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 103 PPM, or 6 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.