Hardness
Soft
43 PPM · 2.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Bradford, PA 16701
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Mckean County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Bradford City Water Authority
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Mckean County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.0013 mg/L
9% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 18,500 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
43 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
43
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 43 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
42
Nearest site
7.6 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–Sep 29, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Tunungwant Creek at Bradford, PA. (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 16701 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Bradford median
43 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 43–43 PPM
Pennsylvania median
84 PPM
41 PPM lower139 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)
0.0013 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 0.0013
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 12
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | PA6420014 | Resolved | Jul 11, 2025through Aug 21, 2025 |
| Public Notice | PA6420014 | Resolved | Jul 11, 2025through Aug 21, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | PA6420014 | Unaddressed | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | PA6420014 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Chlorine | PA6420014 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | PA6420014 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | PA6420014 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | PA6420014 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Chlorine | PA6420014 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jan 31, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | PA6420014 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jan 31, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | PA6420014 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jan 31, 2023 |
| Public Notice | PA6420014 | Resolved | Feb 10, 2021through Feb 17, 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 Bradford ZIP 16701 using 43 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Groundwater Rule 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Bradford
Is tap water safe in Bradford?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 43 PPM, or 2.5 grains per gallon, classified as soft. 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.