Hardness
Very Hard
260 PPM · 15.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Hiawatha, IA 52341
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Linn County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Hiawatha Water Dept
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Linn 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 7,183 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
260 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
260
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
15.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 260 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
68
Nearest site
6.5 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: 083N08W11DCBC 2013Cedar Rapids Ranney 6 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 52341 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Hiawatha median
264 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 260–267 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
21 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.5 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2002
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
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.5
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 10
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA5784307 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Feb 2, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IA5784307 | Resolved | May 13, 2023through Jul 3, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA5784307 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2022through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IA5784307 | Resolved | Oct 12, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| TTHM | IA5784307 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2022through Aug 31, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IA5784307 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2022through Aug 31, 2022 |
| Public Notice | IA5784307 | Resolved | Jul 13, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA5784307 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Jul 3, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IA5784307 | Resolved | May 22, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA5784307 | Unaddressed | Dec 1, 2019 |
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 Hiawatha ZIP 52341 using 260 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
260 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 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Hiawatha
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Hiawatha
Is tap water safe in Hiawatha?+
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 260 PPM, or 15.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 260 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.