Hardness
Very Hard
313 PPM · 18.3 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 Howard County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Very Hard
313 PPM · 18.3 GPG
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 1,178 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
313 PPM
Parts per million
313
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
18.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 313 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
42
Nearest site
21.6 mi
Observation range
Mar 30, 2016–May 13, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: NAWQA AG WELL TP3 AT SHERIDAN, IN (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.
Russiaville median
313 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 313–313 PPM
Indiana median
313 PPM
About the same472 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)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
1.456 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2019
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.456
EPA limit 1.3
100% line = listed limit
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5234010 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 24, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5234010 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 24, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5234010 | Resolved | Oct 10, 2024through Oct 15, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5234010 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Oct 15, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5234010 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Nov 14, 2023 |
| TTHM | IN5234010 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | IN5234010 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 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
Matched to Russiaville ZIP 46979 using 313 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
313 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
Copper (90th percentile) has 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.
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 313 PPM, or 18.3 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
At 313 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.