Hardness
Soft
53.4 PPM · 3.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Georgetown, DE 19947
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Sussex County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Georgetown Water Department
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Sussex 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
0.0137 mg/L
91% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 7,259 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
53.4 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
53.4
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
3.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 53.4 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
379
Nearest site
2 mi
Observation range
Jan 6, 2016–Jun 3, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Georgetown 1 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 19947 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Georgetown median
53 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 53.4–53.4 PPM
Delaware median
55 PPM
About the same48 indexed ZIP readings · Range 47.3–82.4 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)
0.0137 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
2.648 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2025
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0137
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.648
EPA limit 1.3
Nitrate
Measured in MG/L
Local 18.15
EPA limit 10
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 17
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 18.15 MG/L · MCL 10 | DE0000260 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000276 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 4, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11.95 MG/L · MCL 10 | DE0000885 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 4, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE0000901 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jan 29, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE0000276 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Mar 6, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE0000901 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Jan 29, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000901 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Oct 20, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | DE0000901 | Resolved | Apr 25, 2023through Jun 11, 2024 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 17.1 MG/L · MCL 10 | DE0000260 | Resolved | Jan 17, 2023through Mar 9, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000276 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Jul 12, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000901 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Oct 20, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000260 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Oct 31, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE0000260 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through May 8, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000276 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Aug 16, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000901 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Oct 20, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE0000115 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 1994 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE0000901 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 1994 |
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 Georgetown ZIP 19947 using 53.4 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), 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 Georgetown
Is tap water safe in Georgetown?+
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 53.4 PPM, or 3.1 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.