Hardness
Moderately Hard
120 PPM · 7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Dunkirk, NY 14048
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Chautauqua County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Dunkirk City
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Chautauqua 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
0.0097 mg/L
65% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 12,743 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
120 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
120
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 120 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
17
Nearest site
19.4 mi
Observation range
Jan 26, 2016–May 6, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CATTARAUGUS CREEK AT GOWANDA NY (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 14048 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Dunkirk median
120 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 120–120 PPM
New York median
120 PPM
About the same132 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0097 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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 0.0097
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 30
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NY0600360 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NY0600360 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Endrin | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| BHC-GAMMA | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Methoxychlor | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Toxaphene | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Dalapon | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| OXAMYL | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Picloram | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Aldicarb sulfoxide | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Atrazine | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| LASSO | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Heptachlor | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| 2,4-D | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| 2,4,5-TP | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| HEXACHLOROBENZENE | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Chlordane | NY0600360 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2024 |
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 Dunkirk ZIP 14048 using 120 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS 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 Dunkirk
Is tap water safe in Dunkirk?+
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 120 PPM, or 7 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. 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.