Hardness
Moderately Hard
110 PPM · 6.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Spencer, TN 38585
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Van Buren County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Warren County U.d. #2
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Van Buren 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
2.0e-4 mg/L
1% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 6,022 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
110 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
110
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
6.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 110 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
2
Nearest site
51.8 mi
Observation range
Jan 25, 2016–Dec 3, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: WEST CHICKAMAUGA CR AT GA 146, NEAR LAKEVIEW, GA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 38585 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Spencer median
110 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 110–110 PPM
Tennessee median
50 PPM
60 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
2.0e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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 2.0e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.0887
EPA limit 0.06
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.1063
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 29
- Health-based
- 28
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.0887 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1063 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.0879 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | TN0000655 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1111 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1072 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.0921 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.1257 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | TN0000655 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.159 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.1054 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1306 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.1065 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | TN0000655 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1275 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.1032 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.1294 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.0756 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | TN0000655 | Archived | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.0966 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.0645 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.0891 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.0873 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.0847 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TN0000655 | Archived | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 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 Spencer ZIP 38585 using 110 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Spencer
Is tap water safe in Spencer?+
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 110 PPM, or 6.4 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. 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.