Hardness
Very Hard
199.5 PPM · 11.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Iola, KS 66749
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Allen County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Iola, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Allen 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
0.0079 mg/L
53% of action level
Utility match
5 systems
Serves 5,343 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
199.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
199.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 199.5 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
54.3 mi
Observation range
May 2, 2016–Jul 29, 2025
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: East Drywood Creek at Prairie State Park (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 66749 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Iola median
200 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 199.5–199.5 PPM
Kansas median
289 PPM
89 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0079 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2026
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.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0079
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 13
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2000107 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | KS2000112 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | KS2000112 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2000112 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Apr 14, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2000107 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Chlorine | KS2000112 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2000112 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | KS2000112 | Resolved | Aug 29, 2023through Oct 9, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2000112 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | KS2000112 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 26, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2000121 | Resolved | Oct 31, 2022through Mar 8, 2023 |
| Public Notice | KS2000112 | Unaddressed | Nov 17, 2021 |
| Public Notice | KS2000112 | Unaddressed | Nov 17, 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 Iola ZIP 66749 using 199.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
199.5 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
Water questions for Iola
Is tap water safe in Iola?+
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 199.5 PPM, or 11.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 199.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.