Hardness
Very Hard
317.5 PPM · 18.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Dakota County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Inver Grove Heights
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Dakota 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
0.003 mg/L
20% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 34,189 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
317.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
317.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
18.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 317.5 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
88
Nearest site
2.5 mi
Observation range
Jul 11, 2016–Aug 30, 2018
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: PDCJ-U06 027N22W05DBBBAB01 W520 0000427141 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 55076 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Inver Grove Heights median
319 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 317.5–320 PPM
Minnesota median
318 PPM
About the same319 indexed ZIP readings · Range 46.1–716 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.003 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.003
EPA limit 0.015
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 2.9
EPA limit 5
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Measured in PCI/L
Local 13.1
EPA limit 15
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 18
- Health-based
- 18
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 2.9 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 13.1 PCI/L · MCL 15 | MN1190014 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 2.6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 19.3 PCI/L · MCL 15 | MN1190014 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 2.4 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 7.8 PCI/L · MCL 15 | MN1190014 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 11 PCI/L · MCL 15 | MN1190014 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 3.3 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 4.6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 16.6 PCI/L · MCL 15 | MN1190014 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 4.5 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 3.6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 4.4 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 4 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 4 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6.2 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 4.4 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1190014 | Archived | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
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 Inver Grove Heights ZIP 55076 using 317.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
317.5 PPM is 3× 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 systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Combined Radium (-226 and -228), Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Inver Grove Heights
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Inver Grove Heights
Is tap water safe in Inver Grove Heights?+
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 317.5 PPM, or 18.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 317.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.