Hardness
Soft
59.7 PPM · 3.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Elberta, AL 36530
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Baldwin County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Perdido Bay Water Sewer & Fpd
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Baldwin 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
0.0027 mg/L
18% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 12,765 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
59.7 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
59.7
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
3.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 59.7 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
2
Nearest site
50.5 mi
Observation range
Aug 19, 2025–Jan 14, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Well McCall Well 1 Escambia Cnty AL (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 36530 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Elberta median
60 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 59.7–59.7 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
22 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)
0.0027 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
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 0.0027
EPA limit 0.015
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 7.22
EPA limit 5
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 5
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 7.22 PCI/L · MCL 5 | AL0001490 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Nitrate | AL0001490 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6.74 PCI/L · MCL 5 | AL0001490 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6.21 PCI/L · MCL 5 | AL0001490 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6.68 PCI/L · MCL 5 | AL0001490 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
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 Elberta ZIP 36530 using 59.7 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) 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 Elberta
Is tap water safe in Elberta?+
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 59.7 PPM, or 3.5 grains per gallon, classified as soft. 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.