Hardness
Hard
132 PPM · 7.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Cambridge, NY 12816
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Washington County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Cambridge Water Works
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Washington 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 3,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
132 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
132
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
7.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 132 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
94
Nearest site
12.4 mi
Observation range
May 19, 2016–Aug 2, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: W4071, NY (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 12816 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Cambridge median
132 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 132–132 PPM
New York median
120 PPM
12 PPM higher132 indexed ZIP readings · Range 7.2–290 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 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
Copper (CU90)
1.74 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2014
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
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.74
EPA limit 1.3
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 Cambridge ZIP 12816 using 132 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
132 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 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 Cambridge
Is tap water safe in Cambridge?+
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 132 PPM, or 7.7 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 132 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.