Hardness
Soft
12.3 PPM · 0.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in South Burlington, VT 05403
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Chittenden County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- South Burlington City Water System
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Chittenden 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
3 systems
Serves 19,500 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
12.3 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
12.3
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 12.3 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
79
Nearest site
16.5 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–May 31, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: WECASS 79 (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 05403 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
South Burlington median
12 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 12.3–12.3 PPM
Vermont median
98 PPM
86 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2027
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
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 6
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHM | VT0005091 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | VT0005091 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | VT0005090 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Nitrate | VT0005090 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Nitrate | VT0005090 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | VT0005090 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 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 South Burlington ZIP 05403 using 12.3 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate 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 South Burlington
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for South Burlington
Is tap water safe in South Burlington?+
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 12.3 PPM, or 0.7 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.