Hardness
Very Hard
360 PPM · 21.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationA source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Steuben County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Very Hard
360 PPM · 21.1 GPG
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0023 mg/L
15% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 2,138 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
360 PPM
Parts per million
360
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
21.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 360 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
52
Nearest site
6.5 mi
Observation range
Jun 20, 2016–Oct 11, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Coldwater Fen piezometer 6a-Branch County, MI (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Fremont median
360 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 360–360 PPM
Indiana median
313 PPM
47 PPM higher472 indexed ZIP readings · Range 132–371 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
Lead (PB90)
0.0023 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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.
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0023
EPA limit 0.015
100% line = listed limit
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5276006 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5276006 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Nov 5, 2025 |
| Arsenic | IN5276013 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5276006 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Aug 11, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IN5276013 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 11, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IN5276013 | Resolved | Nov 14, 2021through Feb 10, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5276013 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Mar 28, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5276013 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Mar 28, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5276013 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5276013 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Oct 24, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5276013 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 10, 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
Matched to Fremont ZIP 46737 using 360 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
360 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 systemsAffiliate 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
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.
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 360 PPM, or 21.1 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
At 360 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.