Hardness
Hard
137 PPM · 8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Big Spring, TX 79720
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Howard County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- City Of Big Spring
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Howard County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.0031 mg/L
20% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 27,282 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
137 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
137
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 137 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
3
Nearest site
32 mi
Observation range
Jan 7, 2016–Oct 13, 2020
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Lk J. B. Thomas at Intake nr Ira, TX (Lake, Reservoir, Impoundment).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 79720 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Big Spring median
137 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 137–137 PPM
Texas median
111 PPM
26 PPM higher1019 indexed ZIP readings · Range 5.4–500.5 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)
0.0031 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 0.0031
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.114
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 28
- Health-based
- 21
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.114 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Unaddressed | Apr 1, 2026through Jun 30, 2026 |
| Public Notice | TX1140001 | Unaddressed | Mar 3, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | TX1140001 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.117 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.111 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | TX1140001 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Mar 26, 2026 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.107 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | TX1140001 | Resolved | May 7, 2025through Jun 12, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.096 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.09 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | TX1140001 | Resolved | Oct 30, 2024through Dec 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.102 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Archived | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.109 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.099 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.088 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | TX1140001 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.084 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.09 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.087 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX1140001 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Public Notice | TX1140001 | Resolved | Jan 30, 2022through Mar 14, 2022 |
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 Big Spring ZIP 79720 using 137 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
137 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 systemsDrinking 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Big Spring
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Big Spring
Is tap water safe in Big Spring?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 137 PPM, or 8 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 137 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.