Hardness
Soft
52 PPM · 3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Amherst Town, MA 01002
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Hampshire County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Amherst Dpw Water Division
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Hampshire 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
0.008 mg/L
53% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 39,263 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
52 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
52
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 52 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
125
Nearest site
6.8 mi
Observation range
Jan 4, 2016–Jun 8, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: WEST BRANCH SWIFT RIVER NEAR SHUTESBURY, MA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 01002 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Amherst Town median
52 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 52–52 PPM
Massachusetts median
49 PPM
About the same328 indexed ZIP readings · Range 24.3–128 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)
0.008 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 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 0.008
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 1
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | MA1008000 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 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 Amherst Town ZIP 01002 using 52 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate 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 Amherst Town
Is tap water safe in Amherst Town?+
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 52 PPM, or 3 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.