Hardness
Hard
145 PPM · 8.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Franklin, LA 70538
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for St. Mary Parish.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- City Of Franklin Water Supply
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- St. Mary Parish
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 8,325 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
145 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
145
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 145 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
7
Nearest site
10.2 mi
Observation range
Jan 11, 2016–Jun 2, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Wax Lake Outlet at Calumet, LA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 70538 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Franklin median
145 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 145–145 PPM
Louisiana median
90 PPM
55 PPM higher102 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.8–314 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 pass3 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
Copper (CU90)
1.4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2017
Numerical coverage
4 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.4
EPA limit 1.3
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.067
EPA limit 0.06
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.081
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 49
- Health-based
- 31
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | LA1101003 | Resolved | Jun 21, 2025through Jul 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | LA1101003 | Resolved | May 2, 2025through May 7, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Archived | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Archived | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.067 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | LA1101003 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Archived | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Archived | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Archived | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | LA1101003 | Archived | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Public Notice | LA1101003 | Unaddressed | Jul 11, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | LA1101003 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
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 Franklin ZIP 70538 using 145 PPM nearby hardness and 4 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
145 PPM is 1× 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), TTHM 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 Franklin
Is tap water safe in Franklin?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 145 PPM, or 8.5 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 145 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.