Hardness
Soft
34.7 PPM · 2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Columbia Falls, MT 59912
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Flathead County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Columbia Falls City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Flathead 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
10 systems
Serves 4,450 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
34.7 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
34.7
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 34.7 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
39.7 mi
Observation range
Jul 9, 2024–Nov 21, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 34N14W03BBBA01 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 59912 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Columbia Falls median
35 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 34.7–34.7 PPM
Montana median
122 PPM
87 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, 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
- 68
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. COLI | MT0002997 | Resolved | Dec 4, 2025through Dec 11, 2025 |
| E. COLI | MT0002997 | Resolved | Oct 8, 2025through Oct 8, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000914 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0002493 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0002997 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 17, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0002493 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 17, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0003531 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0002493 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000184 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2024through Feb 4, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0002493 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 4, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000184 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0002997 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 7, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0004483 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Oct 9, 2023 |
| E. COLI | MT0002997 | Resolved | Oct 8, 2022through Oct 12, 2022 |
| BHC-GAMMA | MT0000181 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Methoxychlor | MT0000181 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Toxaphene | MT0000181 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate | MT0000181 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| OXAMYL | MT0000181 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Simazine | MT0000181 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
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 Columbia Falls ZIP 59912 using 34.7 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 Columbia Falls
Is tap water safe in Columbia Falls?+
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 34.7 PPM, or 2 grains per gallon, classified as soft. 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.