Hardness
Hard
148 PPM · 8.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Butler County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Poplar Bluff Pws
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Butler 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
0.0012 mg/L
8% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 17,043 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
148 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
148
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 148 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
13
Nearest site
11.8 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–May 11, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Little Black River below Fairdealing, MO (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 63901 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Poplar Bluff median
148 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 148–148 PPM
Missouri median
236 PPM
88 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0012 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0012
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in UG/L
Local 61.18
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 2
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 61.18 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | MO4010656 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MO4069038 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Apr 2, 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 Poplar Bluff ZIP 63901 using 148 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
148 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 systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) has 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Poplar Bluff
Is tap water safe in Poplar Bluff?+
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 148 PPM, or 8.7 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 148 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.