How hard is the water in Orland, IN?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 357.5 ppm (20.9 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 46776?

At 357.5 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 Orland, IN 46776

Q: Is tap water safe in Orland?

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 Steuben County.

No active health-based violation reported

Primary matched system: Orland Water Works
Source water: Groundwater
County: Steuben County
Profile updated: Jun 30, 2026

At a glance

What the current records say

EPA quarter 2026Q2

Hardness

Very Hard

357.5 PPM · 20.9 GPG

Compliance screen

No active flag

0 active health-based records

Lead 90th percentile

0.0013 mg/L

8% of action level

Utility match

1 system

Serves 530 people system-wide

Hardness meter

How hard is the water?

Very Hard

Estimated local hardness

USGS hardness classification scale

357.5 PPM

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

Parts per million

357.5

mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent

Grains per gallon

20.9

1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM

What this means at home

At 357.5 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

12.6 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

Is 46776 typical?

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

Orland median

358 PPM

About the same

1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 357.5–357.5 PPM

Indiana median

313 PPM

45 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)

0.0013 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 0.0013

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
Lead and Copper Rule	IN5276027	Resolved	Jan 1, 2024through Jan 28, 2025
Revised Total Coliform Rule	IN5276027	Resolved	Sep 1, 2021through Oct 25, 2021
Revised Total Coliform Rule	IN5276027	Resolved	Aug 1, 2021through Oct 6, 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 Orland ZIP 46776 using 357.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.

1 match

Scale protection

High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener

357.5 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 Orland

Is tap water safe in Orland?+

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 357.5 PPM, or 20.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener?+

At 357.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.