Hardness
Very Hard
244 PPM · 14.3 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 Meade County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Very Hard
244 PPM · 14.3 GPG
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0029 mg/L
19% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 532 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
244 PPM
Parts per million
244
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 244 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
11
Nearest site
23.2 mi
Observation range
Jun 13, 2016–May 6, 2021
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 28S 29W 29BBBB01 COS-1189 (Well).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.
Fowler median
244 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 244–244 PPM
Kansas median
289 PPM
45 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)
0.0029 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.
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0029
EPA limit 0.015
100% line = listed limit
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2011901 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Feb 27, 2026 |
| Chlorine | KS2011901 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2011901 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Sep 21, 2024 |
| Chlorine | KS2011901 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2011901 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 26, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | KS2011901 | Resolved | Oct 2, 2022through Feb 22, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2011901 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | KS2011901 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | KS2011901 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2022 |
| TTHM | KS2011901 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 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
Matched to Fowler ZIP 67844 using 244 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
244 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.
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 244 PPM, or 14.3 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
At 244 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.