Hardness
Soft
46.3 PPM · 2.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Florence, AL 35632
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Lauderdale County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Florence Water Department, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Lauderdale 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
0.0034 mg/L
23% of action level
Utility match
4 systems
Serves 77,766 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
46.3 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
46.3
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 46.3 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
40
Nearest site
12.2 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-LUS28 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 35632 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Florence median
48 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 46.3–50.6 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
8 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)
0.0034 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
5.12 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 1994
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0034
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 5.12
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 16
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,4-D | AL0000783 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0000777 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | AL0000777 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 2,4-D | AL0000783 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| TTHM | AL0000777 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0000777 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| TTHM | AL0000777 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0000777 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0000777 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | AL0000777 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AL0000777 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through May 9, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AL0000777 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through Mar 26, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | AL0000777 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 5, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | AL0000777 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 5, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AL0000777 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence RuleReported 0 | AL0000777 | Addressed | Oct 19, 1999 |
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 Florence ZIP 35632 using 46.3 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Florence
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Florence
Is tap water safe in Florence?+
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 46.3 PPM, or 2.7 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.