Hardness
Very Hard
228 PPM · 13.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Billings, MT 59102
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Yellowstone County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Billings City Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Yellowstone 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
10 systems
Serves 114,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
228 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
228
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
13.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 228 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
11
Nearest site
44 mi
Observation range
Mar 9, 2016–Jun 27, 2018
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: BL-18 Medicine Creek Canyon in Bighorn Lake (Lake, Reservoir, Impoundment).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 59102 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Billings median
235 PPM
7 PPM lower3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 228–235 PPM
Montana median
122 PPM
106 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)
0.003 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2027
Copper (CU90)
1.55 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2017
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.003
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.55
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 189
- Health-based
- 15
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MT0005118 | Resolved | May 1, 2026through May 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0006002 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2026through Apr 30, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0005232 | Archived | Apr 1, 2026through Apr 30, 2026 |
| Groundwater Rule | MT0004507 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0005232 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0005232 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| TTHM | MT0000155 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MT0000155 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0005017 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through May 5, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0005190 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0004714 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0006002 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0003808 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 6, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0004392 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MT0004392 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | MT0004392 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0005017 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | MT0004507 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0004093 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | MT0004507 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 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 Billings ZIP 59102 using 228 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
228 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
Copper (90th percentile) 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Billings
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Billings
Is tap water safe in Billings?+
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 228 PPM, or 13.3 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 228 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.