Hardness
Very Hard
300 PPM · 17.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Lafayette, IN 47904
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Tippecanoe County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Lafayette Water Works
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Tippecanoe County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
4.5e-4 mg/L
3% of action level
Utility match
6 systems
Serves 70,835 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
300 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
300
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
17.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 300 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
46
Nearest site
39 mi
Observation range
Mar 30, 2016–May 13, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 29N7W-31.1f (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 47904 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Lafayette median
300 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 300–300 PPM
Indiana median
313 PPM
13 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
4.5e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2028
Copper (CU90)
1.39 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 4.5e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.39
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 22
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5279013 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Feb 18, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5279016 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| E. COLI | IN5279013 | Resolved | Jul 13, 2025through Jul 16, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5279013 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5279017 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Dec 5, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5279023 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Nov 3, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5279026 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5279026 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Sep 13, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5279026 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 26, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5279014 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 20, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5279016 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 5, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5279016 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Aug 3, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5279016 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5279026 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Sep 14, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5279026 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through May 16, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IN5279026 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5279016 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Oct 7, 2025 |
| Arsenic | IN5279026 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | IN5279026 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through May 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5279013 | Resolved | May 1, 2021through Jun 25, 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 Lafayette ZIP 47904 using 300 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
300 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 systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), Lead and Copper 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 Lafayette
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Lafayette
Is tap water safe in Lafayette?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation 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 300 PPM, or 17.5 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 300 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.