Hardness
Very Hard
188 PPM · 11 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Safford, AZ 85546
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Graham County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Safford City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Graham 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
0.0057 mg/L
38% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 20,600 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
188 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
188
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 188 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
12.6 mi
Observation range
Mar 30, 2016–Apr 8, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: GILA RIVER AT SAFFORD, ARIZ. (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 85546 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Safford median
188 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 188–188 PPM
Arizona median
241 PPM
53 PPM lower285 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)
0.0057 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 0.0057
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 69
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | AZ0405003 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AZ0405003 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AZ0405003 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Chlorine | AZ0405003 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AZ0405003 | Archived | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AZ0405003 | Archived | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AZ0405003 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AZ0405005 | Resolved | Oct 2, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | AZ0405003 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AZ0405003 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Nov 3, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | AZ0405003 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AZ0405003 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Chlorine | AZ0405003 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | AZ0405003 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AZ0405003 | Unaddressed | Jan 2, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | AZ0405306 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Apr 29, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | AZ0405003 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | AZ0405003 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | AZ0405003 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | AZ0405003 | Unaddressed | Dec 20, 2024 |
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 Safford ZIP 85546 using 188 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
188 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Safford
Is tap water safe in Safford?+
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 188 PPM, or 11 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 188 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.