Hardness
Moderately Hard
80.5 PPM · 4.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Altoona, PA 16601
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Blair County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Altoona Water Authority
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Blair 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
0.0029 mg/L
19% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 62,500 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
80.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
80.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
4.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 80.5 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
64
Nearest site
8.4 mi
Observation range
Jan 4, 2016–Jun 2, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Beaverdam Br Juniata River near Hollidaysburg, PA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 16601 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Altoona median
86 PPM
5 PPM lower2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 80.5–91.5 PPM
Pennsylvania median
84 PPM
About the same139 indexed ZIP readings · Range 43–166.5 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)
0.0029 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 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 0.0029
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 22
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | PA4070023 | Unaddressed | May 4, 2026 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | PA4070023 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Public Notice | PA4070023 | Resolved | Sep 23, 2025through Oct 10, 2025 |
| Public Notice | PA4070023 | Resolved | Sep 23, 2025through Oct 10, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | PA4070023 | Resolved | Aug 13, 2025through Oct 10, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | PA4070023 | Resolved | Aug 13, 2025through Oct 10, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | PA4070023 | Resolved | Aug 13, 2025through Oct 10, 2025 |
| Bromate | PA4070023 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Bromate | PA4070023 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | PA4070023 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Bromate | PA4070023 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Bromate | PA4070023 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Bromate | PA4070023 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | PA4070023 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | PA4070023 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | PA4070023 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | PA4070023 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Thallium, Total | PA4070023 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | PA4070023 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| TTHM | PA4070023 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
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 Altoona ZIP 16601 using 80.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate 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 Altoona
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Altoona
Is tap water safe in Altoona?+
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 80.5 PPM, or 4.7 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.