Hardness
Very Hard
488 PPM · 28.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Sidney, MT 59270
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Richland County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Sidney City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Richland County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.005 mg/L
33% of action level
Utility match
4 systems
Serves 5,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
488 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
488
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
28.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 488 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
47
Nearest site
11.4 mi
Observation range
Jul 6, 2016–Sep 24, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 22N58E08ABBA01 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 59270 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Sidney median
488 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 488–488 PPM
Montana median
122 PPM
366 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.005 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2000
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.005
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.4
EPA limit 1.3
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.097
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 23
- Health-based
- 11
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.097 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Unaddressed | Apr 1, 2026through Jun 30, 2026 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.117 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.115 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.108 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.137 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000644 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2024through Feb 4, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 105 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000644 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Nov 7, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0000514 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | MT0000514 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 14, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 110 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0004839 | Resolved | May 1, 2024through May 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0004839 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Apr 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0000514 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Apr 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.115 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MT0004839 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2024through Mar 18, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.141 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.139 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | MT0000514 | Archived | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MT0000514 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 27, 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 Sidney ZIP 59270 using 488 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
488 PPM is 4× 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), TTHM have 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 Sidney
Is tap water safe in Sidney?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 488 PPM, or 28.5 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 488 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.