Hardness
Very Hard
272.5 PPM · 15.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Bloomington, IN 47408
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Monroe County.
2 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- City Of Bloomington Utilities
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Monroe County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
2 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0051 mg/L
34% of action level
Utility match
9 systems
Serves 83,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
272.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
272.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
15.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 272.5 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
4
Nearest site
43.1 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–May 28, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: SCHOOL BRANCH AT NOBLE DRIVE AT BROWNSBURG, IN (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 47408 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Bloomington median
248 PPM
25 PPM higher5 indexed ZIP readings · Range 248–272.5 PPM
Indiana median
313 PPM
40 PPM lower472 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0051 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0051
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in UG/L
Local 104.5
EPA limit 0.06
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 92.6
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 69
- Health-based
- 22
- Active health-based
- 2
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts RuleHealth-based | IN5253006 | Resolved | Mar 5, 2026through Mar 11, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5253014 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 104.5 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | IN5253006 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | IN5253006 | Archived | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5253014 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 29, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | IN5253006 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 111.3 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | IN5253006 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | IN5253006 | Unaddressed | Aug 14, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | IN5253006 | Resolved | Aug 14, 2025through Jan 14, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | IN5253006 | Unaddressed | Aug 14, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | IN5253006 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Nov 18, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5253008 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 29, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5253015 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 29, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5253014 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 29, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 100.2 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | IN5253006 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 89.9 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | IN5253006 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts RuleHealth-based | IN5253006 | Resolved | Jan 24, 2025through Feb 12, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IN5253003 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | IN5253003 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 69.7 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | IN5253006 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
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 Bloomington ZIP 47408 using 272.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
272.5 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
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM, Groundwater Rule 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Bloomington
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Bloomington
Is tap water safe in Bloomington?+
EPA ECHO reports 2 active health-based violations among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 272.5 PPM, or 15.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 272.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.