Hardness
Soft
27.9 PPM · 1.6 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 Horry County.
At a glance
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Hardness
Soft
27.9 PPM · 1.6 GPG
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
6.5e-4 mg/L
4% of action level
Utility match
4 systems
Serves 49,375 people system-wide
Hardness meter
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
27.9 PPM
Parts per million
27.9
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
1.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 27.9 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
3
Nearest site
62.2 mi
Observation range
Jan 15, 2016–May 9, 2017
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CAPE FEAR RIVER ADJ TO RIVER RD NR BURNETT, NC (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.
Myrtle Beach median
28 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 27.9–27.9 PPM
South Carolina median
19 PPM
9 PPM higher236 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)
6.5e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 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.
Measured in mg/L
Local 6.5e-4
EPA limit 0.015
100% line = listed limit
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | SC2610001 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | SC2610001 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
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 Myrtle Beach ZIP 29577 using 27.9 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
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 27.9 PPM, or 1.6 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.