Hardness
Very Hard
283 PPM · 16.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Delray Beach, FL 33444
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Palm Beach County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Delray Beach Public Water System
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Palm Beach 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
0.0037 mg/L
25% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 69,754 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
283 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
283
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 283 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
118
Nearest site
1.2 mi
Observation range
Jun 7, 2016–Jan 27, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: FL4500351 Delray Bch SA Well 27 AAH8957 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 33444 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Delray Beach median
284 PPM
About the same4 indexed ZIP readings · Range 283–284 PPM
Florida median
280 PPM
About the same602 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0037 mg/L
Reported Dec 1, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0037
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 96.1525
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 16
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4500351 | Archived | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| E. COLI | FL4500351 | Archived | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | FL4504285 | Unaddressed | Apr 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | FL4504285 | Unaddressed | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4504285 | Archived | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| E. COLI | FL4504285 | Archived | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4500351 | Unaddressed | Mar 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4504285 | Archived | Mar 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| E. COLI | FL4504285 | Archived | Mar 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| TTHM | FL4500351 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | FL4500351 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| TTHM | FL4504285 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | FL4504285 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | FL4504285 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 96.1525 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL4504285 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Apr 1, 2021 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 95.5125 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL4504285 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 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 Delray Beach ZIP 33444 using 283 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
283 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
TTHM, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Delray Beach
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Delray Beach
Is tap water safe in Delray Beach?+
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 283 PPM, or 16.5 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 283 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.