Hardness
Very Hard
273 PPM · 16 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Oxford, IA 52322
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Johnson County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Oxford Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Johnson 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
3 systems
Serves 722 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
273 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
273
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 273 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
64
Nearest site
6.3 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: 079N08W32BCB (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 52322 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Oxford median
273 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 273–273 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
8 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
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
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 20
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | IA5260601 | Unaddressed | Nov 4, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IA5260601 | Unaddressed | Nov 4, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IA5260601 | Unaddressed | Sep 3, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA5260601 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IA5260601 | Unaddressed | Feb 26, 2025 |
| Public Notice | IA5260601 | Unaddressed | Feb 4, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA5260601 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA5260601 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA5260601 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | IA5260601 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IA5260601 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA5260017 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jan 22, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA5260601 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 1, 2025 |
| Nitrate | IA5260017 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA5260017 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Public Notice | IA5260601 | Resolved | Nov 17, 2021through Jun 1, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA5260601 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Jul 31, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IA5260601 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Jan 1, 2022 |
| Public Notice | IA5260601 | Resolved | Jun 29, 2021through Jun 1, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IA5260601 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2021through Feb 28, 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 Oxford ZIP 52322 using 273 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
273 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 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 Oxford
Is tap water safe in Oxford?+
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 273 PPM, or 16 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 273 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.