Hardness
Soft
11.8 PPM · 0.7 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 Richland County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Soft
11.8 PPM · 0.7 GPG
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 799 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
11.8 PPM
Parts per million
11.8
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 11.8 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
18
Nearest site
41.8 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
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Irmo median
12 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 11.8–11.8 PPM
South Carolina median
19 PPM
7 PPM lower236 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.2–106 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 Dec 31, 2024
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.
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
100% line = listed limit
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC4050014 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | SC4050014 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 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
Matched to Irmo ZIP 29063 using 11.8 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate 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 11.8 PPM, or 0.7 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.