Hardness
Very Hard
233 PPM · 13.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Pocatello, ID 83209
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Bannock County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Pocatello City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Bannock 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
0.005 mg/L
33% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 58,231 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
233 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
233
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
13.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 233 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
81
Nearest site
42.7 mi
Observation range
May 16, 2016–Jun 18, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 01N 30E 19DCA1 SEP-16 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 83209 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Pocatello median
232 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 230–233 PPM
Idaho median
168 PPM
65 PPM higher78 indexed ZIP readings · Range 22.2–339 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)
0.005 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2026
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.005
EPA limit 0.015
Nitrate
Measured in MG/L
Local 12
EPA limit 10
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 3
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | ID6030043 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| E. COLI | ID6030043 | Resolved | Oct 9, 2023through Oct 16, 2024 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 12 MG/L · MCL 10 | ID6030043 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 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 Pocatello ZIP 83209 using 233 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
233 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
Nitrate 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 Pocatello
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Pocatello
Is tap water safe in Pocatello?+
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 233 PPM, or 13.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 233 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.