Hardness
Hard
123 PPM · 7.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Pittsburgh, PA 15204
A 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.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Auth
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Allegheny 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
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 520,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
123 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
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
75
Nearest site
7.7 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: McClarens Run DS SWOF 10, Coraopolis Heights, PA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 15204 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Pittsburgh median
123 PPM
About the same24 indexed ZIP readings · Range 121–127 PPM
Pennsylvania median
84 PPM
39 PPM higher139 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)
0.002 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 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 33
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| TTHM | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Methoxychlor | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Toxaphene | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Endothall | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Glyphosate | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Picloram | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Dinoseb | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Carbofuran | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Atrazine | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| 2,3,7,8-TCDD | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Heptachlor | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| 2,4-D | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Pentachlorophenol | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Chlordane | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| BHC-GAMMA | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| Diquat | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
| LASSO | PA5020038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Nov 27, 2023 |
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 Pittsburgh ZIP 15204 using 123 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
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 systemsAffiliate 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 Pittsburgh
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Pittsburgh
Is tap water safe in Pittsburgh?+
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 123 PPM, or 7.2 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 123 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.