Is tap water safe in Hines?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Hines, OR?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 63.4 ppm (3.7 grains per gallon), classified as moderately hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 97738?

There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm conditions with an at-home hardness test before purchasing equipment.

City water profile

Hines water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Hines, Oregon.

Median indexed hardness

63PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 63.4–63.4 PPM

State comparison: 34 PPM above
State hardness rank: #2 of 21
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Hines has 1 published ZIP profile across Harney County. The indexed median is 63 PPM, compared with 29 PPM across Oregon.

Among the 21 Oregoncities with an indexed median, Hines ranks #2from highest to lowest. Across all 56 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 15.7to 78.9 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard1 ZIP

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 2.4 miles
Profiles with evidence: 1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 1Low: 0

Observation window: Mar 21, 2018 to Oct 31, 2018.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Hines

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

97738

Moderately Hard

63.4 PPM

Nearest site: 2.4 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Hines Water Department

PWSID OR4100382

Groundwater

System population served: 1,645
Last reported: Jun 26, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Revised Total Coliform Rule	OR4100382	Feb 1, 2026	Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule	OR4100382	Jul 1, 2024	Resolved
Nitrate	OR4100382	Jan 1, 2024	Resolved
E. COLI	OR4100382	Oct 17, 2022	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Oregon communities

Redmond

Deschutes County

52 PPM median

Klamath Falls

Klamath County

51 PPM median

Elgin

Union County

79 PPM median

Medford

Jackson County

40 PPM median

Ashland

Jackson County

40 PPM median

Seaside

Clatsop County

37 PPM median

Search all 21 Oregon cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Hines

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 63 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.