Hardness
Moderately Hard
80.1 PPM · 4.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Carter, MT 59420
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Chouteau County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Carter Chouteau Co Water Dist
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Chouteau 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
2 systems
Serves 150 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
80.1 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
80.1
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
4.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 80.1 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
2
Nearest site
72.4 mi
Observation range
Mar 4, 2017–Feb 26, 2025
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: KINGS HILL SNOW SITE, MT (Land).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 59420 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Carter median
80 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 80.1–80.1 PPM
Montana median
122 PPM
42 PPM lower129 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
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
- 34
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | MT0000520 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | MT0000520 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | MT0000520 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | MT0000520 | Archived | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | MT0000520 | Archived | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0003978 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2024through Feb 4, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | MT0003978 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | MT0003978 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0003978 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MT0003978 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| TTHM | MT0003978 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0003978 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2021through Feb 14, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0000520 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2021through Feb 28, 2021 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | MT0000520 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | MT0000520 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | MT0000520 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | MT0000520 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | MT0000520 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | MT0000520 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Trichloroethylene | MT0000520 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
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 Carter ZIP 59420 using 80.1 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate 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 Carter
Is tap water safe in Carter?+
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 80.1 PPM, or 4.7 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.