Hardness
Soft
33.2 PPM · 1.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Port St. Joe, FL 32456
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Gulf County.
3 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Port St. Joe, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Gulf 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
0.012 mg/L
80% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 13,848 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
33.2 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
33.2
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
1.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 33.2 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
2
Nearest site
19.8 mi
Observation range
Jan 19, 2016–Apr 15, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: APALACHICOLA RIVER NR SUMATRA,FLA. (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 32456 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Port St. Joe median
33 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 33.2–33.2 PPM
Florida median
280 PPM
247 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 pass3 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.012 mg/L
Reported Dec 1, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.8 mg/L
Reported Jun 1, 2009
Numerical coverage
4 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.012
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.8
EPA limit 1.3
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in UG/L
Local 63.925
EPA limit 0.06
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 96
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 14
- Health-based
- 5
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. COLI | FL1230848 | Archived | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL1230848 | Archived | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 63.925 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | FL1230848 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 96 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL1230848 | Archived | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | FL1230848 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 97.55 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL1230848 | Archived | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 91.98 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL1230848 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | FL1230848 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 86.61 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL1230848 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| TTHM | FL1230848 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| TTHM | FL1230848 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | FL1230848 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | FL1230545 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2015 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | FL1230848 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2015 |
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 Port St. Joe ZIP 32456 using 33.2 PPM nearby hardness and 4 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), 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 Port St. Joe
Is tap water safe in Port St. Joe?+
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 33.2 PPM, or 1.9 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.