Hardness
Soft
33 PPM · 1.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Oxford, AL 36203
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Calhoun County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Oxford Water Works & Sewer Board
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Calhoun 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
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 31,239 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
33 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
33
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
1.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 33 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
13
Nearest site
30.7 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: TALLAPOOSA RIVER AT US 78, NEAR TALLAPOOSA, GA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 36203 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Oxford median
33 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 33–33 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
5 PPM lower406 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)
0.001 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 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Trichloroethylene
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.012
EPA limit 0.005
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 23
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Trichloroethylene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Styrene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| CHLOROBENZENE | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Toluene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Vinyl chloride | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Benzene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Ethylbenzene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | AL0000162 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
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 Oxford ZIP 36203 using 33 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Trichloroethylene 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 Oxford
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Oxford
Is tap water safe in Oxford?+
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 33 PPM, or 1.9 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.