Hardness
Very Hard
263 PPM · 15.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Bristow, IA 50611
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Butler County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Bristow Muni Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Butler 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
0.0012 mg/L
8% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 145 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
263 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
263
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
15.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 263 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
32
Nearest site
8.2 mi
Observation range
Jun 20, 2017–Sep 10, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 091N18W12CDC 1997NAWQA Butler County (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 50611 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Bristow median
263 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 263–263 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
18 PPM lower721 indexed ZIP readings · Range 182–834 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)
0.0012 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
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 0.0012
EPA limit 0.015
Nitrate
Measured in MG/L
Local 11.8
EPA limit 10
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 3
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11.8 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA1222044 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 16.9 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA1222044 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11.1 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA1222044 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
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 Bristow ZIP 50611 using 263 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
263 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
Nitrate 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 Bristow
Is tap water safe in Bristow?+
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 263 PPM, or 15.4 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 263 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.