Hardness
Very Hard
285 PPM · 16.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Linn County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Cedar Rapids Water Department
- Source water
- Groundwater influenced by surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Linn 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
9 systems
Serves 142,364 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
4
Nearest site
0.8 mi
Observation range
Feb 17, 2016–Jun 3, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Morgan Creek near Covington, IA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 52405 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Cedar Rapids median
276 PPM
9 PPM higher6 indexed ZIP readings · Range 276–285 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
About the same721 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0016 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
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
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 29
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA5784311 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Feb 2, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IA5784311 | Resolved | Mar 6, 2025through Aug 4, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA5784314 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Feb 2, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IA5784311 | Resolved | Oct 22, 2024through Aug 4, 2025 |
| Nitrate | IA5784311 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA5715802 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 19, 2024 |
| E. COLI | IA5784311 | Resolved | Jun 16, 2024through Jun 27, 2024 |
| TTHM | IA5784302 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IA5784302 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IA5784314 | Resolved | May 13, 2023through Jul 3, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IA5784312 | Resolved | May 13, 2023through Jul 3, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA5784311 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2022through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IA5784312 | Resolved | Nov 18, 2022through Jul 3, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IA5784311 | Resolved | Oct 12, 2022through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IA5784314 | Unaddressed | Oct 12, 2022 |
| Public Notice | IA5784312 | Unaddressed | Oct 12, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IA5784311 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2022through Aug 31, 2022 |
| TTHM | IA5784311 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2022through Aug 31, 2022 |
| Public Notice | IA5784311 | Unaddressed | Jul 13, 2022 |
| Public Notice | IA5784312 | Unaddressed | Jul 13, 2022 |
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 Cedar Rapids ZIP 52405 using 285 PPM nearby hardness and 1 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Cedar Rapids
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Cedar Rapids
Is tap water safe in Cedar Rapids?+
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.