Hardness
Very Hard
236 PPM · 13.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Wharton, TX 77488
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Wharton County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- City Of Wharton
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Wharton 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
0.0017 mg/L
11% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 8,756 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
236 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
236
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
13.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 236 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
37
Nearest site
38.9 mi
Observation range
Feb 24, 2016–Jun 12, 2025
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: BH-65-45-5xx (TxWR 463356) (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 77488 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Wharton median
236 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 236–236 PPM
Texas median
111 PPM
125 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0017 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0017
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 59
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | TX2410005 | Resolved | Dec 13, 2025through Feb 27, 2026 |
| Public Notice | TX2410005 | Resolved | Dec 13, 2025through Feb 27, 2026 |
| Public Notice | TX2410005 | Resolved | Dec 13, 2025through Feb 27, 2026 |
| Public Notice | TX2410005 | Resolved | Dec 13, 2025through Feb 27, 2026 |
| Public Notice | TX2410005 | Resolved | Dec 13, 2025through Feb 27, 2026 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Mar 27, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | TX2410005 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Dec 16, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | TX2410005 | Resolved | Sep 29, 2024through Dec 16, 2025 |
| 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Xylenes, Total | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Vinyl chloride | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| CHLOROBENZENE | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Benzene | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Ethylbenzene | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Styrene | TX2410005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
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 Wharton ZIP 77488 using 236 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
236 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Wharton
Is tap water safe in Wharton?+
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 236 PPM, or 13.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 236 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.