Hardness
Very Hard
260.5 PPM · 15.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Alachua, FL 32615
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Alachua County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Alachua Wtp
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Alachua 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
0.014 mg/L
93% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 8,220 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
260.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
260.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
15.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 260.5 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
10
Nearest site
14.3 mi
Observation range
Nov 20, 2019–Jan 16, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: NEWBERRY WELL NO. 3 AAL2489 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 32615 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Alachua median
261 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 260.5–260.5 PPM
Florida median
280 PPM
19 PPM lower602 indexed ZIP readings · Range 20–374.5 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.014 mg/L
Reported Dec 1, 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 0.014
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 8
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | FL2011006 | Unaddressed | Feb 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | FL2011006 | Unaddressed | Feb 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL2011006 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2023through Apr 21, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | FL2011006 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | FL2011006 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | FL2011006 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Feb 3, 2022 |
| TTHM | FL2011006 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| E. COLI | FL2010017 | Unaddressed | Nov 1, 2020 |
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 Alachua ZIP 32615 using 260.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
260.5 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 systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Alachua
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Alachua
Is tap water safe in Alachua?+
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 260.5 PPM, or 15.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 260.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.