Hardness
Very Hard
250 PPM · 14.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Flagstaff, AZ 86005
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Coconino County.
5 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Flagstaff City Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Coconino County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
5 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 79,796 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
250 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
250
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 250 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
21
Nearest site
30.1 mi
Observation range
Jan 19, 2016–Mar 24, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: VERDE RIVER NEAR CLARKDALE, AZ (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 86005 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Flagstaff median
250 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 247.5–264 PPM
Arizona median
241 PPM
9 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 196
- Health-based
- 15
- Active health-based
- 5
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | AZ0403088 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AZ0403067 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Public Notice | AZ0403011 | Resolved | Dec 27, 2025through Feb 13, 2026 |
| Public Notice | AZ0403067 | Unaddressed | Oct 18, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | AZ0403011 | Resolved | Oct 5, 2025through Jan 27, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | AZ0403087 | Unaddressed | Oct 2, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | AZ0403175 | Unaddressed | Oct 2, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AZ0403088 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AZ0403011 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Arsenic | AZ0403087 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AZ0403087 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AZ0403175 | Resolved | Aug 14, 2025through Oct 2, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AZ0403175 | Resolved | Aug 7, 2025through Mar 23, 2026 |
| Public Notice | AZ0403087 | Unaddressed | Jul 26, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | AZ0403087 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Jan 20, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AZ0403008 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Aug 12, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | AZ0403073 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 22, 2025 |
| Arsenic | AZ0403088 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Arsenic | AZ0403088 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | AZ0403088 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 16, 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 Flagstaff ZIP 86005 using 250 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
250 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Flagstaff
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Flagstaff
Is tap water safe in Flagstaff?+
EPA ECHO reports 5 active health-based violations 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 250 PPM, or 14.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 250 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.