Hardness
Very Hard
321 PPM · 18.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Mallard, IA 50562
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Palo Alto County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Mallard Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Palo Alto 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
1 system
Serves 257 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
321 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
321
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
18.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 321 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
5
Nearest site
49.1 mi
Observation range
Jul 10, 2017–Aug 30, 2017
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 50562 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Mallard median
321 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 321–321 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
40 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)
0 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2025
Copper (CU90)
2 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 1994
Numerical coverage
3 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 2
EPA limit 1.3
Arsenic
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.013
EPA limit 0.01
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 11
- Health-based
- 10
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA7450019 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.013 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.014 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.013 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.01 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.011 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.012 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.014 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.016 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.014 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.014 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | IA7450019 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 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 Mallard ZIP 50562 using 321 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
321 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), Arsenic 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 Mallard
Is tap water safe in Mallard?+
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 321 PPM, or 18.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 321 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.