Hardness
Soft
37 PPM · 2.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Gadsden, AL 35904
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Etowah County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Gadsden, The Wwsb Of The City Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Etowah 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
5 systems
Serves 44,637 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
37 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
37
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 37 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
11
Nearest site
32 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–Jun 2, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: COOSA RIVER AT STATE LINE, AL/GA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 35904 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Gadsden median
37 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 37–37 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
About the same406 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 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
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 23
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHM | AL0000577 | Resolved | May 18, 2023through Aug 27, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0000577 | Resolved | May 18, 2023through Aug 27, 2023 |
| TTHM | AL0000577 | Resolved | Feb 23, 2023through May 21, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0000577 | Resolved | Feb 23, 2023through May 21, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0000577 | Resolved | Nov 23, 2022through Feb 26, 2023 |
| TTHM | AL0000577 | Resolved | Nov 23, 2022through Feb 26, 2023 |
| TTHM | AL0000577 | Resolved | Aug 25, 2022through Nov 29, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0000577 | Resolved | Aug 25, 2022through Nov 29, 2022 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 11, 2022 |
| Arsenic | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Barium | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Cadmium | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Nickel | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Nitrite | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Beryllium, Total | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Thallium, Total | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Nitrate | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Chromium | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Antimony, Total | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| CYANIDE | AL0000577 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 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 Gadsden ZIP 35904 using 37 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate 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 Gadsden
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Gadsden
Is tap water safe in Gadsden?+
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 37 PPM, or 2.2 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.