Is tap water safe in Alturas?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Alturas, FL?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 367 ppm (21.5 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 33859?

At 367 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Alturas water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Alturas, Florida.

Median indexed hardness

364PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 360–367 PPM

State comparison: 84 PPM above
State hardness rank: #19 of 290
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Alturas has 2 published ZIP profiles across Polk County. The indexed median is 364 PPM, compared with 280 PPM across Florida.

Among the 290 Floridacities with an indexed median, Alturas ranks #19from highest to lowest. Across all 603 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 20to 374.5 PPM.

The 360–367 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard2 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 10.9 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Jan 13, 2016 to May 27, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Alturas

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

33841

Very Hard

360 PPM

Nearest site: 10.9 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

33859

Very Hard

367 PPM

Nearest site: 2.5 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Alturas Water, Llc

PWSID FL6530057

Groundwater

System population served: 300
Last reported: May 18, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Revised Total Coliform Rule	FL6530057	Dec 1, 2024	Resolved
E. COLI	FL6530057	Dec 1, 2024	Resolved
E. COLI	FL6530057	Jun 1, 2024	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	FL6530057	Jun 1, 2024	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	FL6530057	Apr 1, 2024	Resolved
E. COLI	FL6530057	Apr 1, 2024	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	FL6530057	Mar 1, 2023	Resolved
E. COLI	FL6530057	Mar 1, 2023	Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule	FL6530057	Jan 1, 2022	Unaddressed

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Florida communities

Auburndale

Polk County

364 PPM median

Bartow

Polk County

367 PPM median

Davenport

Polk County

367 PPM median

Dundee

Polk County

367 PPM median

Eagle Lake

Polk County

368 PPM median

Frostproof

Polk County

353 PPM median

Search all 291 Florida cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Alturas

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 364 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.