Hardness
Soft
54.2 PPM · 3.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Excel, AL 36439
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Monroe County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Excel, Town Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Monroe 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
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 3,600 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
54.2 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
54.2
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
3.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 54.2 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
3
Nearest site
13.2 mi
Observation range
Jan 14, 2016–May 5, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: ALABAMA RIVER AT CLAIBORNE AL (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 36439 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Excel median
54 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 54.2–54.2 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
16 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)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
6.59 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2020
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 6.59
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 27
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | AL0001046 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | AL0001046 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AL0001046 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | AL0001046 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Vinyl chloride | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Trichloroethylene | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Benzene | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Styrene | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| CHLOROBENZENE | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | AL0001046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 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 Excel ZIP 36439 using 54.2 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) 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 Excel
Is tap water safe in Excel?+
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 54.2 PPM, or 3.2 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.