Hardness
Soft
24 PPM · 1.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Portland, ME 04101
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Cumberland County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Portland Water District-Greater
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Cumberland 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
0.0019 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 135,068 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
24 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
24
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
1.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 24 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
3
Nearest site
61.8 mi
Observation range
Jan 20, 2016–Mar 17, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Wild River at Gilead, Maine (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 04101 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Portland median
24 PPM
About the same6 indexed ZIP readings · Range 24–24 PPM
Maine median
39 PPM
15 PPM lower122 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.
1 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0019 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
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 0.0019
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 6
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARBON, TOTAL | ME0091300 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Bromate | ME0091300 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| TTHM | ME0091300 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | ME0091300 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | ME0091300 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Bromate | ME0091300 | 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 Portland ZIP 04101 using 24 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Portland
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Portland
Is tap water safe in Portland?+
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 24 PPM, or 1.4 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.