Hardness
Hard
131.5 PPM · 7.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Dowelltown, TN 37059
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Dekalb County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Dowelltown-Liberty W.s.
- Source water
- Groundwater influenced by surface water
- County
- Dekalb 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
0.0022 mg/L
15% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 1,065 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
131.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
131.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
7.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 131.5 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
40
Nearest site
2.8 mi
Observation range
Mar 14, 2022–Apr 6, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Dk:J-033 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 37059 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Dowelltown median
132 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 131.5–131.5 PPM
Tennessee median
50 PPM
82 PPM higher323 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.5–247 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0022 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.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0022
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 55
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | TN0000403 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Nitrate | TN0000403 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | TN0000403 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000403 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000403 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000403 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2023through Nov 30, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000403 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2023through Nov 30, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000403 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2023 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | TN0000403 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000403 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000403 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000403 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000403 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 31, 2023 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | TN0000403 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | TN0000403 | Addressed | Jul 1, 2023 |
| Public Notice | TN0000403 | Resolved | May 15, 2023through Feb 20, 2024 |
| Atrazine | TN0000403 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| 2,4-D | TN0000403 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Public Notice | TN0000403 | Resolved | Mar 21, 2023through Feb 20, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | TN0000403 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2023through Feb 28, 2023 |
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 Dowelltown ZIP 37059 using 131.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
131.5 PPM is 1× 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Dowelltown
Is tap water safe in Dowelltown?+
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 131.5 PPM, or 7.7 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 131.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.