Hardness
Soft
15.3 PPM · 0.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Bennington, VT 05201
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Bennington County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Bennington Water Dept
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Bennington 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
0.0016 mg/L
11% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 13,250 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
15.3 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
15.3
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 15.3 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
46
Nearest site
24.5 mi
Observation range
Jan 4, 2016–Jun 3, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: POESTEN KILL AT BLUE FACTORY RD AT BARBERFILLE NY (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 05201 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Bennington median
15 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 15.3–15.3 PPM
Vermont median
98 PPM
83 PPM lower93 indexed ZIP readings · Range 10.5–176 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)
0.0016 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
2.69 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1996
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0016
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.69
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 50
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | VT0020801 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | VT0020184 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Nov 12, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | VT0020801 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | VT0020801 | Unaddressed | Oct 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | VT0020801 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | VT0005017 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | VT0005017 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | VT0020184 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | VT0020184 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | VT0020760 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Dec 22, 2023 |
| Chlorine | VT0020760 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Nov 21, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | VT0020760 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2022through Aug 31, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | VT0020760 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Apr 21, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | VT0020760 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Apr 21, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | VT0020760 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Dec 22, 2023 |
| Arsenic | VT0005016 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Cadmium | VT0005016 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Chromium | VT0005016 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Antimony, Total | VT0005016 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Thallium, Total | VT0005016 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
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 Bennington ZIP 05201 using 15.3 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Bennington
Is tap water safe in Bennington?+
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 15.3 PPM, or 0.9 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.