Hardness
Very Hard
236 PPM · 13.8 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 Linn County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Very Hard
236 PPM · 13.8 GPG
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0026 mg/L
17% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 223 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
236 PPM
Parts per million
236
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
13.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 236 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
19
Nearest site
44.9 mi
Observation range
Jan 11, 2016–May 12, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: South Grand River at Archie, MO (Stream).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.
Blue Mound median
236 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 236–236 PPM
Kansas median
289 PPM
53 PPM lower540 indexed ZIP readings · Range 72.2–707 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)
0.0026 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.682 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0026
EPA limit 0.015
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.682
EPA limit 1.3
100% line = listed limit
No violation record was returned for the associated systems in the imported lookback window beginning Jan 1, 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 Blue Mound ZIP 66010 using 236 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
236 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 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 236 PPM, or 13.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
At 236 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.