Hardness
Soft
34.1 PPM · 2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Highwood, MT 59450
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.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Highwood County Water And Sewer District
- Source water
- Groundwater
- 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
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 280 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
34.1 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
34.1
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 34.1 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
6
Nearest site
48.6 mi
Observation range
Feb 26, 2016–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 59450 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Highwood median
34 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 34.1–34.1 PPM
Montana median
122 PPM
88 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2026
Copper (CU90)
1.4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2020
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.4
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 21
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0001925 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0001925 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MT0001925 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001925 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001925 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 23, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000248 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Mar 1, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000248 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Jul 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001925 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 13, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000248 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Mar 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001925 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 11, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | MT0001925 | Resolved | Dec 12, 2022through Mar 14, 2023 |
| E. COLI | MT0001925 | Unaddressed | Nov 3, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000248 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Jul 12, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001925 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Jul 12, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0000248 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Apr 18, 2022 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MT0000248 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MT0001925 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000248 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 7, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0001925 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 13, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000248 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Dec 7, 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 Highwood ZIP 59450 using 34.1 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Highwood
Is tap water safe in Highwood?+
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 34.1 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.