Hardness
Hard
123 PPM · 7.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationA source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Allegheny County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Hard
123 PPM · 7.2 GPG
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 5,565 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
123 PPM
Parts per million
123
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
7.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 123 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
74
Nearest site
1.3 mi
Observation range
Jan 19, 2016–Sep 30, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Monongahela River at Braddock, PA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Duquesne median
123 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 123–123 PPM
Pennsylvania median
84 PPM
39 PPM higher139 indexed ZIP readings · Range 43–166.5 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2025
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.
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.081
EPA limit 0.08
100% line = listed limit
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | PA5020012 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 3, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.081 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | PA5020012 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Chlorine | PA5020012 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jan 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | PA5020012 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jan 31, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | PA5020012 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jan 31, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | PA5020012 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 14, 2022 |
| Public Notice | PA5020012 | Resolved | May 11, 2022through Dec 8, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.081 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | PA5020012 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Asbestos | PA5020012 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | PA5020012 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 14, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | PA5020012 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Oct 1, 2021 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.083 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | PA5020012 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Public Notice | PA5020012 | Unaddressed | Feb 10, 2018 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Matched to Duquesne ZIP 15110 using 123 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
123 PPM is 1× 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
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.
Frequently asked
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.
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 123 PPM, or 7.2 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
At 123 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.