Hardness
Very Hard
338 PPM · 19.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Medicine Lodge, KS 67104
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Barber County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Medicine Lodge, City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Barber 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
0.0018 mg/L
12% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 1,723 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
338 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
338
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
19.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 338 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
21
Nearest site
51.5 mi
Observation range
Jun 27, 2016–May 6, 2021
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 28S 20W 10ACAC01 COS-1226 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 67104 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Medicine Lodge median
338 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 338–338 PPM
Kansas median
289 PPM
49 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0018 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.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0018
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 5
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | KS2000701 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2000701 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | KS2000701 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2000702 | Resolved | Oct 31, 2022through Jul 27, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2000701 | Resolved | Oct 31, 2022through Oct 14, 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 Medicine Lodge ZIP 67104 using 338 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
338 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 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 Medicine Lodge
Is tap water safe in Medicine Lodge?+
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 338 PPM, or 19.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 338 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.