Hardness
Very Hard
285 PPM · 16.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in West Palm Beach, FL 33409
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 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Palm Beach County Water Utilities
- Source water
- Groundwater + Surface water
- County
- Palm Beach 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
0.003 mg/L
20% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 671,114 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
285 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
285
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 285 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
105
Nearest site
3.1 mi
Observation range
Jun 13, 2016–Jan 27, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Palm Beach Sys 8 SA Well 9 AAM2788 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 33409 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
West Palm Beach median
285 PPM
About the same6 indexed ZIP readings · Range 285–289 PPM
Florida median
280 PPM
5 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)
0.003 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 0.003
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 117.225
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 16
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | FL4501559 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 5, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | FL4505005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4505005 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4504393 | Resolved | May 1, 2024through May 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4501559 | Archived | Mar 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4504393 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2024through Feb 28, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4505005 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2024through Feb 29, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | FL4504393 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2023through Dec 18, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4504393 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2023through Dec 18, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL4501559 | Unaddressed | Dec 1, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 117.225 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL4501559 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Feb 21, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 112.475 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL4501559 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 108.75 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL4501559 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 107.775 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | FL4501559 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| E. COLI | FL4501559 | Unaddressed | Sep 1, 2011 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | FL4505005 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2011 |
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 West Palm Beach ZIP 33409 using 285 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
285 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 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in West Palm Beach
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for West Palm Beach
Is tap water safe in West Palm Beach?+
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 285 PPM, or 16.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 285 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.