Hardness
Hard
137 PPM · 8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Broken Bow, NE 68822
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Custer County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Broken Bow, City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Custer 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
0.0022 mg/L
15% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 3,568 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
137 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
137
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 137 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
21
Nearest site
14.2 mi
Observation range
Aug 12, 2019–Jul 10, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 14N 21W 15AB 02 Pressey 2 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 68822 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Broken Bow median
137 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 137–137 PPM
Nebraska median
309 PPM
172 PPM lower466 indexed ZIP readings · Range 72.3–1245 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)
0.0022 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
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 0.0022
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 0
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
No violation record was returned for the associated systems in the imported lookback window beginning Jan 1, 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 Broken Bow ZIP 68822 using 137 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
137 PPM is 1× 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Broken Bow
Is tap water safe in Broken Bow?+
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 137 PPM, or 8 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 137 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.