Hardness
Very Hard
330 PPM · 19.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Clay Center, KS 67432
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Clay County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Clay Center, City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Clay 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 4,138 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
330 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
330
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
19.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 330 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
15
Nearest site
27.3 mi
Observation range
Jul 23, 2018–Aug 20, 2025
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 12S 05E 01BBAA01 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 67432 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Clay Center median
330 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 330–330 PPM
Kansas median
289 PPM
41 PPM higher540 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.5 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2022
Numerical coverage
2 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
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.5
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 5
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | KS2002702 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2002702 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2002702 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| Chlorine | KS2002702 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2002710 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
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 Clay Center ZIP 67432 using 330 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
330 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
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
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
Water questions for Clay Center
Is tap water safe in Clay Center?+
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 330 PPM, or 19.3 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 330 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.