Hardness
Soft
22.9 PPM · 1.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Sweet Water, AL 36782
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Marengo County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Sweet Water, The Ww & Sb Of The Town Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Marengo 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
5.0e-4 mg/L
3% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 465 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
22.9 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
22.9
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
1.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 22.9 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
9
Nearest site
47.3 mi
Observation range
Sep 17, 2018–Oct 3, 2019
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Well NAWQA FLH 21 Hale County Al (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 36782 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Sweet Water median
23 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 22.9–22.9 PPM
Alabama median
38 PPM
15 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)
5.0e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
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 5.0e-4
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
- 11
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.081 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | AL0000918 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Public Notice | AL0000918 | Resolved | Sep 22, 2024through Feb 19, 2024 |
| TTHM | AL0000918 | Resolved | Aug 24, 2024through Mar 7, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.086 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | AL0000918 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | AL0000918 | Resolved | Apr 6, 2024through Mar 7, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.085 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | AL0000918 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | AL0000918 | Resolved | Mar 6, 2024through Mar 7, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AL0000918 | Resolved | Jan 6, 2024through Dec 28, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.086 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | AL0000918 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.086 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | AL0000918 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.093 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | AL0000918 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
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 Sweet Water ZIP 36782 using 22.9 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Sweet Water
Is tap water safe in Sweet Water?+
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 22.9 PPM, or 1.3 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.