Hardness
Very Hard
286 PPM · 16.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Combes, TX 78535
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Cameron County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- City Of Combes
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Cameron 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 2,895 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
286 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
286
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 286 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
1
Nearest site
31 mi
Observation range
Feb 17, 2016–Apr 14, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Rio Grande nr Brownsville, TX (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 78535 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Combes median
286 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 286–286 PPM
Texas median
111 PPM
175 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 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
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
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.085
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 14
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | TX0310021 | Unaddressed | Apr 23, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | TX0310021 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | TX0310021 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | TX0310021 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | TX0310021 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | TX0310021 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | TX0310021 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Chlorine | TX0310021 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | TX0310021 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Chlorine | TX0310021 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.085 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX0310021 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.087 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX0310021 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Public Notice | TX0310021 | Resolved | Jan 30, 2022through Mar 8, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.09 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX0310021 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 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 Combes ZIP 78535 using 286 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
286 PPM is 2× 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Combes
Is tap water safe in Combes?+
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 286 PPM, or 16.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 286 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.