Hardness
Hard
124 PPM · 7.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Buena Vista, GA 31803
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Marion County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Marion County Water System
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Marion 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
0.0016 mg/L
11% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 5,875 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
124 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
124
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
7.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 124 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
29
Nearest site
25.9 mi
Observation range
Jun 24, 2019–Dec 16, 2025
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 12Q059 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 31803 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Buena Vista median
124 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 124–124 PPM
Georgia median
40 PPM
84 PPM higher469 indexed ZIP readings · Range 3–207 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)
0.0016 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
2.1 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2015
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0016
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.1
EPA limit 1.3
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 6
EPA limit 5
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 42
- Health-based
- 13
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | GA1970000 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | GA1970000 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | GA1970000 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | GA1970000 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | GA1970000 | Resolved | Feb 21, 2025through Mar 14, 2025 |
| Public Notice | GA1970000 | Unaddressed | Jan 24, 2025 |
| Public Notice | GA1970000 | Resolved | Jan 24, 2025through Mar 11, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | GA1970000 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | GA1970000 | Resolved | Nov 16, 2024through Mar 14, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | GA1970003 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Aug 22, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | GA1970000 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | GA1970000 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 7 PCI/L · MCL 5 | GA1970000 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 7 PCI/L · MCL 5 | GA1970000 | Archived | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | GA1970000 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | GA1970000 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Combined Uranium | GA1970000 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | GA1970000 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | GA1970000 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Sep 27, 2024 |
| Combined Uranium | GA1970000 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
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 Buena Vista ZIP 31803 using 124 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
124 PPM is 1× 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), Combined Radium (-226 and -228) 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 Buena Vista
Is tap water safe in Buena Vista?+
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 124 PPM, or 7.3 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 124 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.