Hardness
Very Hard
209 PPM · 12.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Cape Girardeau County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Cape Girardeau Pws
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Cape Girardeau 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
9.3e-4 mg/L
6% of action level
Utility match
4 systems
Serves 39,941 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
209 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
209
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
12.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 209 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
25
Nearest site
7.9 mi
Observation range
Apr 27, 2016–Jul 8, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 031-MO4024100-12331 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 63703 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Cape Girardeau median
209 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 209–209 PPM
Missouri median
236 PPM
27 PPM lower556 indexed ZIP readings · Range 38.3–483 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)
9.3e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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 9.3e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 14
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | MO4021532 | Unaddressed | Dec 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | MO4021532 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | MO4048083 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MO4048083 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Nov 25, 2025 |
| Public Notice | MO4010136 | Resolved | May 21, 2025through Jun 1, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | MO4010136 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | MO4010136 | Resolved | Feb 21, 2025through Jun 1, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | MO4010136 | Archived | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MO4024097 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Apr 7, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | MO4010136 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Apr 30, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | MO4010136 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MO4048083 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Nov 29, 2022 |
| E. COLI | MO4024097 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2021through Dec 20, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MO4048083 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Oct 17, 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 Cape Girardeau ZIP 63703 using 209 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
209 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Cape Girardeau
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Cape Girardeau
Is tap water safe in Cape Girardeau?+
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 209 PPM, or 12.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 209 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.