Hardness
Soft
15 PPM · 0.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Saluda, SC 29138
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Saluda County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Saluda Co W&s Authority (4120001)
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Saluda 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
0.0033 mg/L
22% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 4,535 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
15 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
15
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 15 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
11
Nearest site
48.2 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: TRIB TO MCCOYS CREEK AT FORT GORDON, GA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 29138 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Saluda median
15 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 15–15 PPM
South Carolina median
19 PPM
About the same236 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)
0.0033 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0033
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.083
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 9
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4110001 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | SC4110001 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Aug 20, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | SC4110001 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Aug 20, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4110001 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC4120001 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2023through Nov 30, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4160011 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 29, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.083 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | SC4110001 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.082 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | SC4110001 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-basedReported 2.59 NTU | SC4120001 | Archived | Jun 1, 2021through Jun 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 Saluda ZIP 29138 using 15 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
TTHM 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 Saluda
Is tap water safe in Saluda?+
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 15 PPM, or 0.9 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.