Hardness
Very Hard
525.5 PPM · 30.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Blackhawk, SD 57718
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Meade County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Black Hawk Water User District
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Meade 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
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 4,500 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
525.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
525.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
30.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 525.5 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
22
Nearest site
10.8 mi
Observation range
May 9, 2016–Nov 20, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 002N008E32AB Valve box on city water main (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 57718 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Blackhawk median
526 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 525.5–525.5 PPM
South Dakota median
516 PPM
10 PPM higher234 indexed ZIP readings · Range 20.5–1330 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)
0.001 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 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Measured in PCI/L
Local 18
EPA limit 15
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 26
- Health-based
- 9
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SD4600041 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 18 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SD4602322 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 17 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SD4602322 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | SD4600041 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 17, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | SD4600041 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 17, 2025 |
| Chlorine | SD4600041 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 17 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SD4602322 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SD4600395 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts RuleHealth-based | SD4600514 | Resolved | Feb 28, 2024through Jul 22, 2024 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts RuleHealth-based | SD4600040 | Resolved | Feb 28, 2024through Oct 10, 2024 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts RuleHealth-based | SD4602001 | Resolved | Feb 28, 2024through Oct 10, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SD4600041 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jun 26, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SD4602094 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Apr 30, 2022 |
| Public Notice | SD4602094 | Resolved | Feb 9, 2022through Jun 20, 2022 |
| Chlorine | SD4602094 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Chlorine | SD4602094 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 16 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SD4602261 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SD4600041 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Aug 1, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SD4602094 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Aug 1, 2022 |
| Chlorine | SD4602094 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 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 Blackhawk ZIP 57718 using 525.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
525.5 PPM is 4× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U 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 Blackhawk
Is tap water safe in Blackhawk?+
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 525.5 PPM, or 30.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 525.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.