Hardness
Hard
132 PPM · 7.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Salem, IN 47167
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Washington County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- East Washington Rural Water
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Washington 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 8,613 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
132 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
132
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
7.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 132 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
1
Nearest site
59.1 mi
Observation range
Jan 21, 2016–May 27, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: OHIO RIVER AT CANNELTON DAM AT CANNELTON, IN (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 47167 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Salem median
132 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 132–132 PPM
Indiana median
313 PPM
181 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in UG/L
Local 66.8
EPA limit 0.06
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 93
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 28
- Health-based
- 15
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5288004 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Nov 19, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Aug 10, 2023 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-basedReported 8.27 NTU | IN5288005 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2022through Feb 28, 2022 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | IN5288005 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2022through Feb 28, 2022 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | IN5288005 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2022through Feb 28, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 11, 2022through Nov 1, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-basedReported 1.3 NTU | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Jan 31, 2022 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Jan 31, 2022 |
| Public Notice | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Nov 1, 2023 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Simazine | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Nov 1, 2023 |
| LASSO | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Atrazine | IN5288005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 66.8 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | IN5288005 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5288005 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Nov 1, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 65.7 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | IN5288002 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 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 Salem ZIP 47167 using 132 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
132 PPM is 1× 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
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Salem
Is tap water safe in Salem?+
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 132 PPM, or 7.7 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 132 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.