Hardness
Very Hard
320 PPM · 18.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Lake Placid, FL 33852
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Highlands County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Placid Lakes Utilities, Inc
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Highlands 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
0.0024 mg/L
16% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 3,307 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
320 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
320
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
18.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 320 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
72
Nearest site
12.7 mi
Observation range
Dec 20, 2016–Jan 28, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: SEBRING WELL NO. 9 AAG7145 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 33852 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Lake Placid median
320 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 320–320 PPM
Florida median
280 PPM
40 PPM higher602 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0024 mg/L
Reported Dec 1, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.43 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 1995
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0024
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.43
EPA limit 1.3
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 89.7
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 71
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6284074 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL6284074 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6280286 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL6280223 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL6284074 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL6280286 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL5284133 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL6280304 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL6280296 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL6280064 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 24, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL6280167 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | FL6280222 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | FL6280222 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL6284089 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6280286 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| E. COLI | FL6280304 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| E. COLI | FL6280296 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | FL6280223 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | FL6280286 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | FL6280286 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Aug 4, 2025 |
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 Lake Placid ZIP 33852 using 320 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
320 PPM is 3× 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
Copper (90th percentile), TTHM 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 Lake Placid
Is tap water safe in Lake Placid?+
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 320 PPM, or 18.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 320 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.