Hardness
Very Hard
560.5 PPM · 32.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Altus, OK 73523
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Jackson County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Altus
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Jackson 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 18,717 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
560.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
560.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
32.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 560.5 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
4
Nearest site
62.6 mi
Observation range
Jan 20, 2016–Jun 3, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Lk Kemp Site AC nr Mabelle, TX (Lake, Reservoir, Impoundment).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 73523 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Altus median
561 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 560.5–560.5 PPM
Oklahoma median
226 PPM
335 PPM higher148 indexed ZIP readings · Range 7–610 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)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
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
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.083
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 31
- Health-based
- 20
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARBON, TOTAL | OK1011501 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | OK1011501 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | OK1011501 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Chlorine dioxide | OK1011501 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.083 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Atrazine | OK1011501 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.096 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | OK1011501 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2024through Mar 5, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.097 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Atrazine | OK1011501 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.093 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.121 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.082 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | OK1011501 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | OK1011501 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.096 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.131 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.108 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.087 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.116 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | OK1011501 | Archived | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 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 Altus ZIP 73523 using 560.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
560.5 PPM is 5× 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
TTHM 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Altus
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Altus
Is tap water safe in Altus?+
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 560.5 PPM, or 32.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 560.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.