Hardness
Very Hard
799.5 PPM · 46.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Malta, MT 59538
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Phillips County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Malta City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Phillips 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 1,800 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
799.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
799.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
46.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 799.5 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
2
Nearest site
69.9 mi
Observation range
Sep 3, 2021–Sep 25, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 27N42E05BCAA01 PC-MW (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 59538 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Malta median
800 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 799.5–799.5 PPM
Montana median
122 PPM
678 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)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2026
Copper (CU90)
1.48 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2026
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 1.48
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 13
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001769 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 6, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001769 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 17, 2025 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MT0000284 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000284 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2024through Feb 4, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001769 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 6, 2024 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MT0001769 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0001769 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001769 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 19, 2023 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MT0000284 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0001769 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2022through Feb 28, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000284 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2021through Jan 19, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0001769 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Jul 27, 2021 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | MT0000284 | 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 Malta ZIP 59538 using 799.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
799.5 PPM is 7× 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Malta
Is tap water safe in Malta?+
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 799.5 PPM, or 46.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 799.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.