Hardness
Very Hard
234 PPM · 13.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Van Wert, OH 45891
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Van Wert County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Van Wert City
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Van Wert 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 10,846 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
234 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
234
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
13.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 234 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
2
Nearest site
52.7 mi
Observation range
Jan 7, 2016–Jun 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Maumee River at Grand Rapids OH (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 45891 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Van Wert median
234 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 234–234 PPM
Ohio median
226 PPM
8 PPM higher162 indexed ZIP readings · Range 77.2–387 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
83 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2004
Numerical coverage
3 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 83
EPA limit 1.3
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.082
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 12
- Health-based
- 7
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | OH8100611 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | OH8100611 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Dec 18, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.082 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OH8100611 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.084 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OH8100611 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | OH8100611 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2024through Feb 29, 2024 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | OH8100611 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.083 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OH8100611 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.085 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OH8100611 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.094 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OH8100611 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.086 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OH8100611 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.083 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OH8100611 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | OH8100611 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2021through Aug 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 Van Wert ZIP 45891 using 234 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
234 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), TTHM 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Van Wert
Is tap water safe in Van Wert?+
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 234 PPM, or 13.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 234 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.