Hardness
Soft
35 PPM · 2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Emporia, VA 23847
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Greensville County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Emporia, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Greensville 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 7,594 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
35 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
35
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 35 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
39 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–Jun 25, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: APPOMATTOX RIVER AT MATOACA, VA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 23847 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Emporia median
35 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 35–35 PPM
Virginia median
34 PPM
About the same133 indexed ZIP readings · Range 9–253 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 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
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in UG/L
Local 68
EPA limit 0.06
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 88
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 13
- Health-based
- 12
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | VA3595250 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Aug 18, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 68 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 88 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 80 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 91 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 100 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 101 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 85 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 71 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 88 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 61 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 92 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | VA3595250 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 113 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | VA3595250 | 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 Emporia ZIP 23847 using 35 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM 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 Emporia
Is tap water safe in Emporia?+
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 35 PPM, or 2 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.