Hardness
Moderately Hard
86.5 PPM · 5.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Harlowton, MT 59036
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Wheatland County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Cmrwa Musselshell Judith Rural Water Sys
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Wheatland 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
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
4 systems
Serves 1,100 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
86.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
86.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
5.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 86.5 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
10
Nearest site
29.8 mi
Observation range
Mar 4, 2017–Sep 10, 2025
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Lodgepole Cr at mouth, nr Wilsall, MT (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 59036 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Harlowton median
87 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 86.5–86.5 PPM
Montana median
122 PPM
35 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)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 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 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 12
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000240 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 18, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000719 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2024through Feb 11, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000240 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000240 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 18, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000719 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 19, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0000240 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000240 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 18, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000719 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Jul 20, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000719 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2021through Jan 26, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000418 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2021through Jan 24, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000719 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Aug 3, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0000418 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2021through Jun 30, 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 Harlowton ZIP 59036 using 86.5 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 Harlowton
Is tap water safe in Harlowton?+
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 86.5 PPM, or 5.1 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.