Hardness
Hard
163 PPM · 9.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Arcata, CA 95521
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Humboldt County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Arcata, City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Humboldt 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
0.0036 mg/L
24% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 20,875 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
163 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
163
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
9.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 163 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
2.4 mi
Observation range
Jul 16, 2019–Nov 17, 2020
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 005N001E08J002H (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 95521 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Arcata median
163 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 163–163 PPM
California median
189 PPM
26 PPM lower678 indexed ZIP readings · Range 3.3–728.5 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)
0.0036 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.5 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1993
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0036
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.5
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 0
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
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
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Arcata ZIP 95521 using 163 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
163 PPM is 1× 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
Copper (90th percentile) 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 Arcata
Is tap water safe in Arcata?+
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 163 PPM, or 9.5 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 163 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.