Hardness
Very Hard
238 PPM · 13.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Princeton, KS 66078
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Franklin County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Princeton, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Franklin 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
2 systems
Serves 252 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
238 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
238
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
13.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 238 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
37.9 mi
Observation range
Jan 11, 2016–Jun 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: KANSAS R AT DESOTO, KS (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 66078 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Princeton median
238 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 238–238 PPM
Kansas median
289 PPM
51 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
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
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.098
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 24
- Health-based
- 9
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2005911 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2005911 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 6, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | KS2005911 | Resolved | Oct 2, 2023through May 3, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | KS2005911 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through May 3, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.098 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KS2005911 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | KS2005912 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| TTHM | KS2005912 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.106 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KS2005911 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Public Notice | KS2005911 | Unaddressed | Dec 16, 2022 |
| Public Notice | KS2005911 | Resolved | Oct 15, 2022through Oct 18, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.104 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KS2005911 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | KS2005911 | Resolved | Sep 27, 2022through Jul 26, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.105 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KS2005911 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Public Notice | KS2005912 | Unaddressed | May 21, 2022 |
| Public Notice | KS2005912 | Unaddressed | May 21, 2022 |
| Public Notice | KS2005912 | Resolved | Jul 22, 2021through Jul 30, 2021 |
| TTHM | KS2005911 | Resolved | May 25, 2021through Jul 2, 2021 |
| Chlorine | KS2005912 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through May 17, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | KS2005912 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Apr 30, 2021 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.09 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | KS2005912 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 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 Princeton ZIP 66078 using 238 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
238 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 systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
TTHM 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 Princeton
Is tap water safe in Princeton?+
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 238 PPM, or 13.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 238 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.