Hardness
Hard
178 PPM · 10.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Empire, MI 49630
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Leelanau County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Empire, Village Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Leelanau 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
0.0021 mg/L
14% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 400 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
178 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
178
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 178 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
49.5 mi
Observation range
Sep 14, 2023–Sep 14, 2023
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: ANTRIM PAS10 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 49630 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Empire median
178 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 178–178 PPM
Michigan median
283 PPM
105 PPM lower504 indexed ZIP readings · Range 41.3–459.5 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)
0.0021 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
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 0.0021
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 149
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MI0002130 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Nitrite | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Methoxychlor | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Simazine | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| LASSO | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Heptachlor epoxide | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Chlordane | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Aldicarb sulfoxide | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Carbofuran | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| Dinoseb | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| 2,4-D | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 21, 2025 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 24, 2025 |
| Xylenes, Total | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 24, 2025 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 24, 2025 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 24, 2025 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 24, 2025 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | MI0002130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 24, 2025 |
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 Empire ZIP 49630 using 178 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
178 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Empire
Is tap water safe in Empire?+
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 178 PPM, or 10.4 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 178 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.