Hardness
Very Hard
308.5 PPM · 18 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Ellsworth, IA 50075
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Hamilton County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Ellsworth Public Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Hamilton 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
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 514 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
308.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
308.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
18
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 308.5 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
22
Nearest site
22.1 mi
Observation range
Jun 13, 2017–Aug 1, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 090N21W26DCCD 1997NAWQA Franklin County (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 50075 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Ellsworth median
309 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 308.5–308.5 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
28 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)
0.001 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.51 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2001
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.51
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 3
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA4009016 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA4009016 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Arsenic | IA4009016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
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 Ellsworth ZIP 50075 using 308.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
308.5 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
Copper (90th percentile) 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 Ellsworth
Is tap water safe in Ellsworth?+
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 308.5 PPM, or 18 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 308.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.