Hardness
Soft
54.2 PPM · 3.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Millsboro, DE 19966
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
- Long Neck Water Company
- 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 11,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
54.2 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
54.2
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
3.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 54.2 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
333
Nearest site
3.2 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: Qg32-18 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 19966 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Millsboro median
54 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 54.2–54.2 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 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2026
Copper (CU90)
1.5 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2019
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
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.5
EPA limit 1.3
Nitrate
Measured in MG/L
Local 10.65
EPA limit 10
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 12
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | DE00A0188 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 24, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 10.65 MG/L · MCL 10 | DE0000590 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 20, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11.85 MG/L · MCL 10 | DE0000590 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE0000622 | Resolved | Dec 16, 2024through Jun 26, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000267 | Resolved | Jul 10, 2024through Sep 17, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE00A0188 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through May 8, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000267 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Aug 29, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000590 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 20, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | DE0000590 | Addressed | Jul 1, 2010 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE0000521 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 1994 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE00A0279 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 1994 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | DE0000267 | 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 Millsboro ZIP 19966 using 54.2 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 Millsboro
Is tap water safe in Millsboro?+
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 54.2 PPM, or 3.2 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.