Hardness
Soft
12.3 PPM · 0.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Columbia, SC 29204
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Richland County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Columbia City Of (sc4010001)
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Richland 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 354,068 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
12.3 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
12.3
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 12.3 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
14
Nearest site
29 mi
Observation range
Jan 19, 2016–Dec 2, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: BEECH CREEK AT EDGE HILL RD NR SUMTER, SC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 29204 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Columbia median
12 PPM
About the same13 indexed ZIP readings · Range 11.8–12.5 PPM
South Carolina median
19 PPM
7 PPM lower236 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.2–106 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.58 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2010
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.58
EPA limit 1.3
Chlorite
Measured in MG/L
Local 1.33
EPA limit 1
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 12
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4060019 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | SC4060001 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | SC4060001 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| ChloriteHealth-basedReported 1.33 MG/L · MCL 1 | SC4010001 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 16, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4060001 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 1, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | SC4060001 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Jun 28, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4060001 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 29, 2022 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | SC4050012 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC4050012 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | SC4050012 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4060019 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Oct 1, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | SC4010001 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Apr 30, 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 Columbia ZIP 29204 using 12.3 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), Chlorite have 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Columbia
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Columbia
Is tap water safe in Columbia?+
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 12.3 PPM, or 0.7 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.