Hardness
Soft
31.8 PPM · 1.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Gaffney, SC 29340
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Cherokee County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Gaffney Bpw (sc1110001)
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Cherokee 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
4 systems
Serves 24,290 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
31.8 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
31.8
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
1.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 31.8 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
2
Nearest site
23 mi
Observation range
Jul 20, 2016–Apr 3, 2018
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: FISHING CREEK AT HWY 5 BELOW YORK, SC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 29340 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Gaffney median
32 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 31.8–31.8 PPM
South Carolina median
19 PPM
13 PPM higher236 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)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
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
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.065
EPA limit 0.06
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.083
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 3
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.065 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | SC1120001 | Archived | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.061 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | SC1120001 | Archived | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.083 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | SC1120003 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 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 Gaffney ZIP 29340 using 31.8 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM 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 Gaffney
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Gaffney
Is tap water safe in Gaffney?+
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 31.8 PPM, or 1.9 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.