Hardness
Very Hard
525.5 PPM · 30.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Box Elder, SD 57719
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.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Box Elder
- 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
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 14,000 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
6.5 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: 002N09E08BB (MW12BG501) (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 57719 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Box Elder median
570 PPM
44 PPM lower2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 525.5–615 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Measured in PCI/L
Local 16
EPA limit 15
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 6
EPA limit 5
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 9
- Health-based
- 9
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 16 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SD4600046 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 19 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SD4600046 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | SD4600046 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 22 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SD4600046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 8 PCI/L · MCL 5 | SD4600046 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 19 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SD4600046 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 7 PCI/L · MCL 5 | SD4600046 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 16 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SD4600046 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | SD4600046 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 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 Box Elder ZIP 57719 using 525.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 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, Combined Radium (-226 and -228) have 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Box Elder
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Box Elder
Is tap water safe in Box Elder?+
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.