Hardness
Very Hard
1318.5 PPM · 77.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Mobile, AL 36602
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Mobile County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Mobile, Bd. Of W&s Comm. Of The City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Mobile 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
0.0015 mg/L
10% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 279,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
1318.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
1318.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
77.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 1318.5 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
6
Nearest site
38.6 mi
Observation range
Jan 14, 2016–May 5, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: PASCAGOULA RIVER AT MI 1 AT PASCAGOULA, MS (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 36602 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Mobile median
1679 PPM
360 PPM lower16 indexed ZIP readings · Range 1318.5–2380 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
1281 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)
0.0015 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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 0.0015
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.081
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 4
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHM | AL0001005 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0001005 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.081 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | AL0001005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | AL0001005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
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 Mobile ZIP 36602 using 1318.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
1318.5 PPM is 11× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
TTHM 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 Mobile
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Mobile
Is tap water safe in Mobile?+
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 1318.5 PPM, or 77.1 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 1318.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.