Is tap water safe in Medford?

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 Medford, OR?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 39.6 ppm (2.3 grains per gallon), classified as soft. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 97501?

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

City water profile

Medford water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

40PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 39.6–39.6 PPM

State comparison: 11 PPM above
State hardness rank: #5 of 21
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Medford has 2 published ZIP profiles across Jackson County. The indexed median is 40 PPM, compared with 29 PPM across Oregon.

Among the 21 Oregoncities with an indexed median, Medford ranks #5from highest to lowest. Across all 56 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 15.7to 78.9 PPM.

The 39.6–39.6 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft2 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 18.4 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Sep 26, 2019 to May 13, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Medford

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

97501

Soft

39.6 PPM

Nearest site: 18.4 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

97504

Soft

39.6 PPM

Nearest site: 17.2 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Medford Water Commission

PWSID OR4100513

Surface water

System population served: 106,068
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
Groundwater Rule	OR4100513	Nov 1, 2025	Resolved
Groundwater Rule	OR4100513	Nov 1, 2025	Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule	OR4100513	Jul 1, 2025	Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule	OR4100513	Jul 1, 2025	Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule	OR4100513	Jul 1, 2025	Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule	OR4100513	Jan 1, 2025	Resolved
Groundwater Rule	OR4100513	Dec 1, 2021	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

Ashland

Jackson County

40 PPM median

Seaside

Clatsop County

37 PPM median

Rainier

Columbia County

35 PPM median

Banks

Washington County

30 PPM median

North Plains

Washington County

30 PPM median

Lake Oswego

Clackamas County

29 PPM median

Search all 21 Oregon cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Medford

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 40 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.