Hardness
Very Hard
351 PPM · 20.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Mason, TX 76856
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Mason County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- City Of Mason
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Mason 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
0.0015 mg/L
10% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 2,228 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
351 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
351
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
20.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 351 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
8
Nearest site
34.8 mi
Observation range
Nov 8, 2016–Jul 7, 2021
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: TH-56-02-502 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 76856 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Mason median
351 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 351–351 PPM
Texas median
111 PPM
240 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0015 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 0.0015
EPA limit 0.015
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Measured in PCI/L
Local 16
EPA limit 15
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 6
EPA limit 5
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 16
- Health-based
- 11
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | TX1600001 | Unaddressed | Apr 11, 2026 |
| E. COLI | TX1600001 | Unaddressed | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | TX1600001 | Unaddressed | Dec 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | TX1600001 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jan 27, 2026 |
| E. COLI | TX1600001 | Resolved | Nov 27, 2024through Mar 24, 2025 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 16 PCI/L · MCL 15 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | TX1600001 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 16 PCI/L · MCL 15 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 16 PCI/L · MCL 15 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 18 PCI/L · MCL 15 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 18 PCI/L · MCL 15 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 17 PCI/L · MCL 15 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 2021 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | TX1600001 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 2021 |
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 Mason ZIP 76856 using 351 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
351 PPM is 3× 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
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Combined Radium (-226 and -228), 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 Mason
Is tap water safe in Mason?+
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 351 PPM, or 20.5 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 351 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.