Hardness
Very Hard
197 PPM · 11.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Ashland, MT 59003
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Powder River County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- St Labre Indian School
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Powder River 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
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 650 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
197 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
197
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 197 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
5
Nearest site
63 mi
Observation range
Jul 13, 2016–Aug 22, 2016
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 54-074-23daa01 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 59003 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Ashland median
197 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 197–197 PPM
Montana median
122 PPM
75 PPM higher129 indexed ZIP readings · Range 0.2–799.5 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.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.001 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 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.083
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 34
- Health-based
- 14
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0000458 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.083 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000018 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 2, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0000458 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MT0000018 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | MT0000018 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 83 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000018 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000458 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 6, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.082 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000018 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 25, 2024 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MT0000018 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.092 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000018 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 28, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.086 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000018 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000018 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Apr 17, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | MT0000458 | Resolved | Aug 10, 2023through Dec 18, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.082 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000018 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Fluoride | MT0000458 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| E. COLI | MT0000458 | Resolved | May 25, 2023through Nov 20, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.082 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000018 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 27, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MT0000018 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| TTHM | MT0000018 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Fluoride | MT0000458 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 21, 2023 |
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 Ashland ZIP 59003 using 197 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
197 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 systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
TTHM 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 Ashland
Is tap water safe in Ashland?+
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 197 PPM, or 11.5 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 197 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.