Hardness
Very Hard
194 PPM · 11.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in West Branch, MI 48661
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Ogemaw County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- West Branch, City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Ogemaw 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
Not reported
Check the utility CCR or tap test
Utility match
1 system
Serves 2,139 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
194 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
194
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 194 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
2
Nearest site
45.4 mi
Observation range
Sep 13, 2023–Sep 14, 2023
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CLARE 17-05 PAS-01 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 48661 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
West Branch median
194 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 194–194 PPM
Michigan median
283 PPM
89 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.
Lead (PB90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
0 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
No comparable measured values reported
Federal SDWIS data does not contain a numerical result and matching benchmark for this profile. Review the compliance history and the utility's Consumer Confidence Report instead.
2026Q2
- All records
- 2
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | MI0007010 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Arsenic | MI0007010 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 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 West Branch ZIP 48661 using 194 PPM nearby hardness and 0 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
194 PPM is 2× 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 West Branch
Is tap water safe in West Branch?+
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 194 PPM, or 11.3 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 194 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.