Hardness
Very Hard
690.5 PPM · 40.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Hays, KS 67601
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Ellis County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Hays, City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Ellis 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
0.003 mg/L
20% of action level
Utility match
9 systems
Serves 21,040 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
690.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
690.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
40.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 690.5 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
6
Nearest site
11.4 mi
Observation range
Jul 30, 2018–Aug 22, 2018
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 15S 18W 26CDDA01 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 67601 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Hays median
691 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 690.5–690.5 PPM
Kansas median
289 PPM
402 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.003 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.712 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1993
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.003
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.712
EPA limit 1.3
Nitrate
Measured in MG/L
Local 11
EPA limit 10
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 78
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2005122 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2005107 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2005108 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11 MG/L · MCL 10 | KS2005116 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11 MG/L · MCL 10 | KS2005116 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2005124 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2005107 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2005110 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2005108 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11 MG/L · MCL 10 | KS2005116 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2005121 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | KS2005101 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2005101 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2005110 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Feb 7, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2005116 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Feb 13, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2005121 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Chlorine | KS2005121 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 12 MG/L · MCL 10 | KS2005116 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Public Notice | KS2005101 | Unaddressed | Nov 25, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2005121 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2023through Nov 30, 2023 |
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 Hays ZIP 67601 using 690.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
690.5 PPM is 6× 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), Nitrate 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 Hays
Is tap water safe in Hays?+
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 690.5 PPM, or 40.4 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 690.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.