Hardness
Soft
49.7 PPM · 2.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Alton, NH 03809
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Belknap County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Alton Water Works
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Belknap 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
0.21 mg/L
1400% of action level
Utility match
4 systems
Serves 1,800 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
49.7 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
49.7
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 49.7 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
57
Nearest site
9.6 mi
Observation range
Jan 13, 2016–Sep 25, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: NH-B3W 11 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 03809 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Alton median
50 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 49.7–50.5 PPM
New Hampshire median
58 PPM
8 PPM lower90 indexed ZIP readings · Range 16–102 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.
0 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.21 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
Copper (CU90)
2.4 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 0.21
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.4
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 30
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | NH0061010 | Unaddressed | Mar 31, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NH0062050 | Resolved | Mar 7, 2023through Apr 4, 2023 |
| Public Notice | NH0062050 | Resolved | Mar 7, 2023through Apr 4, 2023 |
| Arsenic | NH0062050 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Nitrate | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Arsenic | NH0062050 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Jul 22, 2021 |
| Nitrate | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Combined Uranium | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Xylenes, Total | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Trichloroethylene | NH0062050 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | NH0062050 | 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 Alton ZIP 03809 using 49.7 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Lead (90th percentile), Copper (90th percentile) 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Alton
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Alton
Is tap water safe in Alton?+
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 49.7 PPM, or 2.9 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.