Hardness
Moderately Hard
94.5 PPM · 5.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Blue Hill, ME 04614
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Hancock County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Parker Ridge Retirement Community
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Hancock 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
0.0208 mg/L
139% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 120 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
94.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
94.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
5.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 94.5 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
1
Nearest site
63.9 mi
Observation range
Oct 11, 2023–Oct 11, 2023
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: ME-PEW 692 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 04614 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Blue Hill median
95 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 94.5–94.5 PPM
Maine median
39 PPM
56 PPM higher122 indexed ZIP readings · Range 3.2–94.5 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.
0 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0208 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.9 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1996
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0208
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.9
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 17
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0092110 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2025through Feb 26, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | ME0092265 | Resolved | Dec 14, 2025through Mar 13, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0092265 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0092265 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | ME0092165 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Mar 27, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | ME0092110 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Arsenic | ME0092110 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0092110 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2023through Mar 22, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0092265 | Unaddressed | Dec 30, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0092110 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jul 8, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | ME0092110 | Resolved | Mar 20, 2022through Jun 9, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0092110 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0092165 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2021through May 22, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | ME0092110 | Resolved | Sep 27, 2021through Nov 12, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | ME0092110 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Nov 19, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | ME0092165 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Mar 29, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | ME0092265 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2014 |
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 Blue Hill ZIP 04614 using 94.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Lead (90th percentile), Copper (90th percentile) 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 Blue Hill
Is tap water safe in Blue Hill?+
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 94.5 PPM, or 5.5 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. 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.