Hardness
Very Hard
253.5 PPM · 14.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Cottonwood, AZ 86326
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Yavapai County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Cottonwood Municipal Water Cw1
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Yavapai 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
9 systems
Serves 11,023 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
253.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
253.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 253.5 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
34
Nearest site
5.6 mi
Observation range
Jun 27, 2016–May 1, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: A-16-03 15CAC1 (Spring).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 86326 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Cottonwood median
254 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 253.5–253.5 PPM
Arizona median
241 PPM
13 PPM higher285 indexed ZIP readings · Range 66.4–1250 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Arsenic
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.036
EPA limit 0.01
Nitrate
Measured in MG/L
Local 21
EPA limit 10
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 42
- Health-based
- 7
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.036 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | AZ0413268 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 21 MG/L · MCL 10 | AZ0413423 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026through Dec 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AZ0413127 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Vinyl chloride | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Trichloroethylene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Benzene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Styrene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| CHLOROBENZENE | AZ0413105 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
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 Cottonwood ZIP 86326 using 253.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
253.5 PPM is 2× 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
Arsenic, Nitrate have 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 Cottonwood
Is tap water safe in Cottonwood?+
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 253.5 PPM, or 14.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 253.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.