Hardness
Very Hard
437 PPM · 25.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Portland, TX 78374
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for San Patricio County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- City Of Portland
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- San Patricio 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
0.0015 mg/L
10% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 22,933 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
437 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
437
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
25.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 437 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
4
Nearest site
55.6 mi
Observation range
Feb 1, 2016–Feb 9, 2016
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: KP-79-27-2xx (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 78374 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Portland median
339 PPM
98 PPM higher2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 241–437 PPM
Texas median
111 PPM
326 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)
0.0015 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 0.0015
EPA limit 0.015
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.083
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 4
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | TX2050005 | Resolved | Jan 15, 2024through Feb 7, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | TX2050005 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2022through Nov 30, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.083 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX2050005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 0.085 MG/L · MCL 0.08 | TX2050005 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 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 Portland ZIP 78374 using 437 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
437 PPM is 4× 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 Portland
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Portland
Is tap water safe in Portland?+
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 437 PPM, or 25.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 437 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.