Hardness
Hard
133.5 PPM · 7.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Baxter Springs, KS 66713
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Cherokee County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Baxter Springs, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Cherokee 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
0.0032 mg/L
21% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 3,852 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
133.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
133.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
7.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 133.5 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
26
Nearest site
12.5 mi
Observation range
Jan 6, 2016–Apr 21, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Turkey Creek near Joplin, MO (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 66713 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Baxter Springs median
134 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 133.5–133.5 PPM
Kansas median
289 PPM
155 PPM lower540 indexed ZIP readings · Range 72.2–707 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)
0.0032 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 0.0032
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.083
EPA limit 0.08
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Measured in PCI/L
Local 16
EPA limit 15
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 7
- Health-based
- 7
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.083 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KS2002109 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.088 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KS2002109 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.09 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KS2002109 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.087 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KS2002109 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 16 PCI/L · MCL 15 | KS2002109 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 18 PCI/L · MCL 15 | KS2002109 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 21 PCI/L · MCL 15 | KS2002109 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 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
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Baxter Springs ZIP 66713 using 133.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
133.5 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
TTHM, Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U 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 Baxter Springs
Is tap water safe in Baxter Springs?+
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 133.5 PPM, or 7.8 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 133.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.