Hardness
Moderately Hard
79.5 PPM · 4.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Palmer, MI 49871
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Marquette County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Richmond Township
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Marquette 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
0.005 mg/L
33% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 489 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
79.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
79.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
4.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 79.5 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
16
Nearest site
26.8 mi
Observation range
May 16, 2016–Sep 12, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: STE-83-001 (Spring).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 49871 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Palmer median
80 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 79.5–79.5 PPM
Michigan median
283 PPM
203 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)
0.005 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 0.005
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 9
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | MI0005160 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 17, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | MI0005160 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 13, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | MI0005160 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2023through Sep 24, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MI0005160 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jan 3, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MI0005160 | Resolved | Oct 11, 2022through Oct 27, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MI0005160 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 21, 2022 |
| E. COLI | MI0005160 | Resolved | Aug 27, 2021through Sep 2, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MI0005160 | Resolved | Aug 11, 2021through Sep 1, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | MI0005160 | Resolved | Aug 9, 2021through Oct 21, 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 Palmer ZIP 49871 using 79.5 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 Palmer
Is tap water safe in Palmer?+
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 79.5 PPM, or 4.6 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.