Hardness
Moderately Hard
61.3 PPM · 3.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Tacoma, WA 98405
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Pierce County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Tacoma Water Division City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Pierce 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 446,170 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
61.3 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
61.3
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
3.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 61.3 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
2
Nearest site
6.7 mi
Observation range
Jan 13, 2016–Mar 20, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Clarks Creek at Hatchery near Puyallup, WA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 98405 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Tacoma median
61 PPM
About the same13 indexed ZIP readings · Range 61.3–61.3 PPM
Washington median
104 PPM
43 PPM lower189 indexed ZIP readings · Range 20.6–238 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 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.57 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1992
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
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.57
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 0
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
No violation record was returned for the associated systems in the imported lookback window beginning Jan 1, 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 Tacoma ZIP 98405 using 61.3 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Tacoma
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Tacoma
Is tap water safe in Tacoma?+
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 61.3 PPM, or 3.6 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. 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.