Hardness
Very Hard
276 PPM · 16.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in South Bend, IN 46616
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for St. Joseph County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- South Bend Water Works
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- St. Joseph 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
0.0047 mg/L
31% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 115,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
276 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
276
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 276 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
43
Nearest site
23.4 mi
Observation range
Aug 3, 2020–May 13, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Shavehead Lake Fen piezometer 1b - Cass County, MI (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 46616 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
South Bend median
276 PPM
About the same9 indexed ZIP readings · Range 273–290.5 PPM
Indiana median
313 PPM
37 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0047 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 0.0047
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 53
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5271016 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5271016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | IN5271016 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Public Notice | IN5271016 | Unaddressed | Dec 2, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5271016 | Archived | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5271014 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5271016 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | IN5271016 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | IN5271016 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | IN5271016 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Radium-226 | IN5271016 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Radium-228 | IN5271016 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Endrin | IN5271016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Toxaphene | IN5271016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Diquat | IN5271016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Endothall | IN5271016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Dinoseb | IN5271016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Carbofuran | IN5271016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Atrazine | IN5271016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LASSO | IN5271016 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
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 South Bend ZIP 46616 using 276 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
276 PPM is 2× 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 South Bend
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for South Bend
Is tap water safe in South Bend?+
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 276 PPM, or 16.1 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 276 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.