Hardness
Soft
43.5 PPM · 2.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Steele, AL 35987
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for St. Clair County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Steele Water Works Board
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- St. Clair County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 1,722 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
43.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
43.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 43.5 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
49.4 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–Mar 9, 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 35987 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Steele median
44 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 43.5–43.5 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
6 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.001 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
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 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 7
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | AL0001213 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2025through Oct 20, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AL0001213 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through Oct 20, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | AL0001213 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | AL0001213 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 24, 2025 |
| TTHM | AL0001213 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AL0001213 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AL0001213 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 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 Steele ZIP 35987 using 43.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS 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 Steele
Is tap water safe in Steele?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 43.5 PPM, or 2.5 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.