Hardness
Very Hard
245 PPM · 14.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Topeka, KS 66619
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Shawnee County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Topeka, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Shawnee 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
0.0029 mg/L
19% of action level
Utility match
5 systems
Serves 125,963 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
245 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
245
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 245 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
23
Nearest site
8.7 mi
Observation range
Jan 11, 2016–Jun 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: KANSAS R AB TOPEKA WEIR AT TOPEKA, KS (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 66619 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Topeka median
245 PPM
About the same19 indexed ZIP readings · Range 243–245 PPM
Kansas median
289 PPM
44 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0029 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.6 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0029
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.6
EPA limit 1.3
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.073
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 26
- Health-based
- 10
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | KS2117703 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | KS2117703 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2017717 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | KS2017713 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.073 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2017717 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.072 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2017717 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.074 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2117703 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.071 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2017717 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.078 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2117703 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.069 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2017717 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.08 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2117703 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.063 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2017717 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.074 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2117703 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.068 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | KS2117703 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2117703 | Resolved | Oct 31, 2022through Aug 1, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | KS2117703 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Mar 8, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | KS2017717 | Resolved | May 1, 2022through Jul 31, 2022 |
| TTHM | KS2017717 | Resolved | May 1, 2022through Jul 31, 2022 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | KS2017701 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | KS2117703 | Resolved | Jan 31, 2022through Aug 1, 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 Topeka ZIP 66619 using 245 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
245 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
Copper (90th percentile), Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Topeka
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Topeka
Is tap water safe in Topeka?+
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 245 PPM, or 14.3 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 245 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.