Hardness
Very Hard
272 PPM · 15.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Dubuque, IA 52001
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Dubuque County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Dubuque Water Works
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Dubuque 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
0.0046 mg/L
31% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 59,667 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
272 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
272
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
15.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 272 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
39
Nearest site
16 mi
Observation range
Feb 9, 2016–Mar 3, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 28N 1W-24.6f1 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 52001 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Dubuque median
272 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 268–274 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
9 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0046 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 0.0046
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 45
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA3100823 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA3100823 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IA3126604 | Archived | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | IA3126604 | Archived | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | IA3126307 | Archived | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IA3126307 | Archived | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA3126307 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IA3126303 | Resolved | Jan 21, 2025through Apr 7, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IA3100609 | Resolved | Jan 21, 2025through Apr 7, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA3126603 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| E. COLI | IA3100823 | Resolved | Dec 13, 2024through Dec 16, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA3100823 | Unaddressed | Dec 1, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA3126345 | Unaddressed | Dec 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA3126316 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA3126303 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA3100609 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA3100600 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through May 12, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA3126307 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IA3100823 | Resolved | Dec 24, 2023through Apr 9, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IA3126345 | Resolved | Dec 24, 2023through Jul 3, 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 Dubuque ZIP 52001 using 272 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
272 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 Dubuque
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Dubuque
Is tap water safe in Dubuque?+
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 272 PPM, or 15.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 272 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.