Hardness
Very Hard
309 PPM · 18.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Hastings, IA 51540
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Mills County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Hastings Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Mills 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
6.0e-4 mg/L
4% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 152 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
309 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
309
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
18.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 309 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
73
Nearest site
22.9 mi
Observation range
Aug 25, 2016–May 27, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 14N 14E 18 SWSW M-504 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 51540 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Hastings median
309 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 309–309 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
6.0e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
1.38 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2008
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 6.0e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.38
EPA limit 1.3
Nitrate
Measured in MG/L
Local 11
EPA limit 10
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 8
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA6527038 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Apr 30, 2024 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 10.9 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA6527038 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Public Notice | IA6527038 | Unaddressed | Dec 15, 2023 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11.1 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA6527038 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11.2 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA6527038 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2023through Nov 30, 2023 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 10.9 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA6527038 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through May 31, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IA6527038 | Unaddressed | Apr 29, 2023 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 10.6 MG/L · MCL 10 | IA6527038 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Apr 30, 2023 |
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 Hastings ZIP 51540 using 309 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
309 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), Nitrate have 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 Hastings
Is tap water safe in Hastings?+
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 309 PPM, or 18.1 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 309 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.