Hardness
Very Hard
296.5 PPM · 17.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Cathay, ND 58422
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Wells County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Cathay City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Wells 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
0.0115 mg/L
77% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 43 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
296.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
296.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
17.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 296.5 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
24
Nearest site
12.7 mi
Observation range
May 18, 2016–May 14, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 147-067-35AAA (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 58422 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Cathay median
297 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 296.5–296.5 PPM
North Dakota median
372 PPM
75 PPM lower226 indexed ZIP readings · Range 170.5–716 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)
0.0115 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
2.52 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0115
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.52
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 22
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | ND5200169 | Unaddressed | Sep 23, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | ND5200169 | Resolved | Mar 12, 2025through May 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | ND5200169 | Resolved | Nov 17, 2024through Mar 17, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | Nov 13, 2024through May 19, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | ND5200169 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 25, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | ND5200169 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 25, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | Oct 2, 2024through Oct 28, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 23, 2024 |
| Chlorine | ND5200169 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | Oct 25, 2023through Apr 11, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | Oct 2, 2023through Oct 23, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | ND5200169 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through May 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | ND5200169 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Oct 23, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Oct 31, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | ND5200169 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2022through Aug 31, 2022 |
| Chlorine | ND5200169 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | ND5200169 | Resolved | Apr 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 Cathay ZIP 58422 using 296.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
296.5 PPM is 2× 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 Cathay
Is tap water safe in Cathay?+
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 296.5 PPM, or 17.3 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 296.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.