Is tap water safe in Moscow?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Moscow, ID?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 132 ppm (7.7 grains per gallon), classified as hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 83844?

At 132 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Moscow water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Moscow, Idaho.

Median indexed hardness

128PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 123–132 PPM

State comparison: 40 PPM below
State hardness rank: #38 of 67
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Moscow has 2 published ZIP profiles across Latah County. The indexed median is 128 PPM, compared with 168 PPM across Idaho.

Among the 67 Idahocities with an indexed median, Moscow ranks #38from highest to lowest. Across all 78 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 22.2to 339 PPM.

The 123–132 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard2 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 3.7 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Jul 26, 2016 to Aug 7, 2024.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Moscow

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

83843

Hard

123 PPM

Nearest site: 3.7 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

83844

Hard

132 PPM

Nearest site: 0.9 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Moscow Water Dept

PWSID ID2290023

Groundwater

System population served: 26,000
Last reported: Jun 26, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
TTHM	ID2290023	Jan 1, 2025	Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	ID2290023	Jan 1, 2025	Resolved
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	ID2290023	Jul 1, 2021	Resolved
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	ID2290023	Jul 1, 2021	Resolved
p-Dichlorobenzene	ID2290023	Jul 1, 2021	Resolved
1,2-Dichloroethane	ID2290023	Jul 1, 2021	Resolved
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	ID2290023	Jul 1, 2021	Resolved
1,2-Dichloropropane	ID2290023	Jul 1, 2021	Resolved
Trichloroethylene	ID2290023	Jul 1, 2021	Resolved
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	ID2290023	Jul 1, 2021	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Idaho communities

Genesee

Latah County

123 PPM median

Bonners Ferry

Boundary County

124 PPM median

Plummer

Benewah County

132 PPM median

Caldwell

Canyon County

118 PPM median

Eagle

Ada County

118 PPM median

Emmett

Gem County

118 PPM median

Search all 67 Idaho cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Moscow

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 128 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.