Hardness
Very Hard
420.5 PPM · 24.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Slater, IA 50244
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Polk County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Slater Muni Water Dept
- Source water
- Groundwater influenced by surface water
- County
- Polk 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
0.007 mg/L
47% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 1,548 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
420.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
420.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
24.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 420.5 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
2
Nearest site
40.9 mi
Observation range
Jan 6, 2016–Jun 1, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Boone River near Webster City, IA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 50244 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Slater median
421 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 420.5–420.5 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
140 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)
0.007 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.37 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2019
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.007
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.37
EPA limit 1.3
Nitrite
Measured in MG/L
Local 1.37
EPA limit 1
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 4
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHM | IA8580057 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IA8580057 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 31, 2024 |
| NitriteHealth-basedReported 1.37 MG/L · MCL 1 | IA8580057 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IA8580057 | Unaddressed | Nov 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 Slater ZIP 50244 using 420.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
420.5 PPM is 4× 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), Nitrite 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 Slater
Is tap water safe in Slater?+
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 420.5 PPM, or 24.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 420.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.