Hardness
Very Hard
363.5 PPM · 21.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Lake Wales, FL 33853
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Polk County.
5 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Lake Wales, City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Polk County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
5 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0023 mg/L
15% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 18,722 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
363.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
363.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
21.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 363.5 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
74
Nearest site
1.8 mi
Observation range
Jan 13, 2016–May 27, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: LK WALES 1861 FT LFA DZMW-1 WELL AT LAKE WALES,FL (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 33853 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Lake Wales median
364 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 363.5–363.5 PPM
Florida median
280 PPM
84 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0023 mg/L
Reported Dec 1, 2024
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 0.0023
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 80.75
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 271
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 5
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. COLI | FL6535707 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6535707 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL3531009 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6531226 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL6531226 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL3532355 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL3532355 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL6531751 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6531751 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL3531546 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL3531546 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL6534996 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6534996 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL6535084 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6535084 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6535707 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| E. COLI | FL6535707 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6531751 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| E. COLI | FL6531751 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| E. COLI | FL6535707 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 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 Wales ZIP 33853 using 363.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
363.5 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
TTHM 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Lake Wales
Is tap water safe in Lake Wales?+
EPA ECHO reports 5 active health-based violations 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 363.5 PPM, or 21.3 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 363.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.