Hardness
Very Hard
286 PPM · 16.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in La Joya, TX 78560
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Hidalgo County.
2 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- City Of La Joya
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Hidalgo County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
2 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 3,033 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
70.1 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 78560 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
La Joya 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 0.098
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 51
- Health-based
- 8
- Active health-based
- 2
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | TX1080213 | Unaddressed | Apr 2, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TX1080213 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TX1080213 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | TX1080213 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | TX1080213 | Unaddressed | May 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | TX1080213 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | TX1080213 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | TX1080213 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHM | TX1080213 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | TX1080213 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2024through Sep 17, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | TX1080213 | Resolved | Mar 31, 2024through Aug 14, 2024 |
| Public Notice | TX1080213 | Resolved | Feb 25, 2024through May 28, 2025 |
| Public Notice | TX1080213 | Resolved | Feb 18, 2024through Aug 30, 2024 |
| Public Notice | TX1080213 | Resolved | Dec 14, 2023through May 28, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | TX1080213 | Unaddressed | Dec 2, 2023 |
| Public Notice | TX1080213 | Resolved | Nov 20, 2023through May 28, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | TX1080213 | Resolved | Sep 29, 2023through Aug 14, 2024 |
| Public Notice | TX1080213 | Resolved | Aug 17, 2023through May 28, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | TX1080213 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jan 4, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | TX1080213 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jul 10, 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 La Joya ZIP 78560 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, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, Revised Total Coliform Rule 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 La Joya
Is tap water safe in La Joya?+
EPA ECHO reports 2 active health-based violations 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 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.