Hardness
Very Hard
323 PPM · 18.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Fort Dodge, IA 50501
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Webster County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Fort Dodge Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Webster 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
10 systems
Serves 25,874 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
323 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
323
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
18.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 323 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
10
Nearest site
45.5 mi
Observation range
Jun 28, 2017–Jul 30, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 095N24W21ADAD 1996NAWQA IADRN-2 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 50501 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Fort Dodge median
323 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 323–323 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
42 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.001 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 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 21
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA9400801 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA9433312 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| TTHM | IA9433336 | Archived | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IA9433336 | Archived | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA9433050 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Aug 22, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA9433336 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Nitrate | IA9433336 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Nitrite | IA9433336 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA9433312 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2023through Feb 7, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA9433349 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 24, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA9433349 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2023through Aug 22, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA9433312 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Nitrate | IA9433349 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Vinyl chloride | IA9433312 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Trichloroethylene | IA9433312 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA9433302 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2021through Feb 5, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA9433336 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2021through Feb 16, 2022 |
| Nitrate | IA9433801 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA9433349 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Oct 20, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA9433312 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 3, 2021 |
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 Fort Dodge ZIP 50501 using 323 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
323 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 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Fort Dodge
Is tap water safe in Fort Dodge?+
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 323 PPM, or 18.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 323 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.