Hardness
Soft
9.6 PPM · 0.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Gaston, SC 29053
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Lexington County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Gaston Rural Water Dist (sc3220002)
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Lexington 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
9 systems
Serves 7,550 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
9.6 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
9.6
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 9.6 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
77
Nearest site
9.7 mi
Observation range
Jun 13, 2016–Jul 10, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: LEX- 839 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 29053 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Gaston median
10 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 9.6–9.6 PPM
South Carolina median
19 PPM
9 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.88 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2011
Numerical coverage
2 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 1.88
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 29
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC3260183 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3260183 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | SC4060052 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| E. COLI | SC0920002 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 12, 2025 |
| E. COLI | SC0920001 | Resolved | Nov 23, 2024through Dec 18, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | SC3270011 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 13, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | SC3270011 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 13, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | SC3260183 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 5, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | SC3260183 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 5, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC4060052 | Addressed | Feb 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC4060052 | Archived | Dec 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC4060052 | Archived | Nov 1, 2023through Nov 30, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC3260183 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2022through Nov 30, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3270011 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Apr 26, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3260090 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC3260183 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Oct 31, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4060052 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3270011 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Apr 26, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3260090 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4060052 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 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 Gaston ZIP 29053 using 9.6 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) 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 Gaston
Is tap water safe in Gaston?+
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 9.6 PPM, or 0.6 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.