How hard is the water in Albany, IN?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 362.5 ppm (21.2 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 47320?

At 362.5 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.

Local water dashboard

Official source aggregation

Water quality in Albany, IN 47320

Q: Is tap water safe in Albany?

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.

A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Delaware County.

No active health-based violation reported

Primary matched system: Albany Water Department
Source water: Groundwater
County: Delaware County
Profile updated: Jun 30, 2026

At a glance

What the current records say

EPA quarter 2026Q2

Hardness

Very Hard

362.5 PPM · 21.2 GPG

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 2,165 people system-wide

Hardness meter

How hard is the water?

Very Hard

Estimated local hardness

USGS hardness classification scale

362.5 PPM

Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+

Parts per million

362.5

mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent

Grains per gallon

21.2

1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM

What this means at home

At 362.5 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

Nearest site

9.8 mi

Observation range

Mar 30, 2016–Sep 10, 2025

Estimate confidence

Moderate

Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: NAWQA AG WELL TP9RESET AT MUNCIE, IN (Well).USGS source documentation ↗

Regional context

Is 47320 typical?

These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.

Albany median

363 PPM

About the same

1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 362.5–362.5 PPM

Indiana median

313 PPM

50 PPM higher

472 indexed ZIP readings · Range 132–371 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

Pass

Local 0

EPA limit 0.015

Share of EPA benchmark

100% line = listed limit

EPA SDWIS compliance

Reported violation history

Open EPA source documentation ↗

2026Q2

All records: 3
Health-based: 0
Active health-based: 0

Contaminant or rule	System	Status	Period
Consumer Confidence Rule	IN5218001	Resolved	Oct 1, 2025through Oct 23, 2025
Revised Total Coliform Rule	IN5218001	Resolved	Sep 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023
Revised Total Coliform Rule	IN5218001	Resolved	Jul 1, 2022through Sep 2, 2022

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 Albany ZIP 47320 using 362.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.

1 match

Scale protection

High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener

362.5 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 systems

Affiliate 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 Albany

Is tap water safe in Albany?+

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 362.5 PPM, or 21.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener?+

At 362.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.