Hardness
Very Hard
418 PPM · 24.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Early, IA 50535
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Sac County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Early Municipal Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Sac 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
0.0013 mg/L
9% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 587 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
418 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
418
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
24.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 418 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
17
Nearest site
64 mi
Observation range
Jul 30, 2024–Apr 27, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 23N 10E 2ADBB01 (D-D1) (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 50535 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Early median
418 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 418–418 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
137 PPM higher721 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)
0.0013 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 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 0.0013
EPA limit 0.015
Nitrate
Measured in MG/L
Local 10.7
EPA limit 10
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 5
- Health-based
- 5
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 10.7 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA8114000 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA8114000 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11.77 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA8114000 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11.3 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA8114000 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 13.4 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA8114000 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2022through Nov 30, 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 Early ZIP 50535 using 418 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
418 PPM is 3× 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 Early
Is tap water safe in Early?+
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 418 PPM, or 24.4 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 418 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.