Hardness
Soft
58.6 PPM · 3.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationA source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Polk County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Soft
58.6 PPM · 3.4 GPG
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
Not reported
Check the utility CCR or tap test
Utility match
1 system
Serves 2,014 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
58.6 PPM
Parts per million
58.6
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
3.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 58.6 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
7.6 mi
Observation range
Mar 3, 2016–May 25, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Cossatot River near Vandervoort, AR (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Wickes median
59 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 58.6–58.6 PPM
Arkansas median
71 PPM
12 PPM lower210 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.8–283 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
Lead (PB90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
0 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
No comparable measured values reported
Federal SDWIS data does not contain a numerical result and matching benchmark for this profile. Review the compliance history and the utility's Consumer Confidence Report instead.
No violation record was returned for the associated systems in the imported lookback window beginning Jan 1, 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
Matched to Wickes ZIP 71973 using 58.6 PPM nearby hardness and 0 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
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.
Frequently asked
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.
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 58.6 PPM, or 3.4 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.