Hardness
Very Hard
245.5 PPM · 14.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Shelby, MS 38774
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Bolivar County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- City Of Shelby
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Bolivar 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 1,998 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
245.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
245.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 245.5 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
90
Nearest site
8.3 mi
Observation range
Aug 15, 2016–Aug 9, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 011C0140 BOLIVAR (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 38774 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Shelby median
246 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 245.5–245.5 PPM
Mississippi median
66 PPM
180 PPM higher146 indexed ZIP readings · Range 11.8–2560 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 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 0
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 11
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MS0060019 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 11, 2025 |
| Chlorine | MS0060019 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MS0060019 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MS0060019 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrite | MS0060019 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | MS0060019 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | MS0060019 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MS0060019 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrite | MS0060019 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | MS0060019 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Apr 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | MS0060019 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Apr 1, 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 Shelby ZIP 38774 using 245.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
245.5 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 Shelby
Is tap water safe in Shelby?+
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 245.5 PPM, or 14.4 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 245.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.