Hardness
Very Hard
316 PPM · 18.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Kokomo, IN 46965
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Howard County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Indiana American Water - Kokomo
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Howard 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
0.0012 mg/L
8% of action level
Utility match
7 systems
Serves 59,313 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
316 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
316
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
18.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 316 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
9
Nearest site
13.4 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–May 28, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Deer Creek at Elm St nr Miami, IN (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 46965 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Kokomo median
316 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 316–316 PPM
Indiana median
313 PPM
About the same472 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)
0.0012 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.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0012
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 14
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5234009 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 10, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5234011 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through Aug 4, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5234003 | Resolved | Oct 7, 2024through Feb 21, 2025 |
| Nitrite | IN5234011 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Apr 24, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5234011 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5234011 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5234003 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Oct 11, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5234002 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 16, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5234009 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Nov 16, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5234009 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IN5234009 | Resolved | Oct 24, 2021through Sep 27, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5234002 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 9, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5234002 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Apr 25, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5234002 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2021through Aug 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 Kokomo ZIP 46965 using 316 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
316 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Kokomo
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Kokomo
Is tap water safe in Kokomo?+
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 316 PPM, or 18.5 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 316 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.