Hardness
Moderately Hard
70.4 PPM · 4.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Ashland, WI 54806
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Ashland County.
3 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Ashland Water Utility
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Ashland 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
0.0065 mg/L
43% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 8,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
70.4 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
70.4
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
4.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 70.4 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
14
Nearest site
8.4 mi
Observation range
Feb 1, 2016–Feb 3, 2021
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: BAD RIVER NEAR ODANAH, WI (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 54806 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Ashland median
70 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 70.4–70.4 PPM
Wisconsin median
288 PPM
218 PPM lower556 indexed ZIP readings · Range 41.3–467 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 pass3 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0065 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1992
Numerical coverage
4 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0065
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.4
EPA limit 1.3
TTHM
Measured in UG/L
Local 87.4
EPA limit 0.08
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in UG/L
Local 69.5
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 13
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WI8020373 | Resolved | Mar 11, 2024through Oct 11, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI8020373 | Resolved | Feb 27, 2024through May 29, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI8020373 | Resolved | Feb 27, 2024through May 29, 2024 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 87.4 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | WI8020373 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | WI8020373 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Aug 8, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 69.5 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | WI8020373 | Archived | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 62.8 UG/L · MCL 0.06 | WI8020373 | Archived | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 81.7 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | WI8020373 | Archived | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Public Notice | WI8020373 | Resolved | Aug 29, 2023through Nov 14, 2023 |
| TTHMHealth-basedReported 82 UG/L · MCL 0.08 | WI8020373 | Archived | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI8020373 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through May 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI8020373 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jun 10, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI8020373 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Feb 8, 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 Ashland ZIP 54806 using 70.4 PPM nearby hardness and 4 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 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 Ashland
Is tap water safe in Ashland?+
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 70.4 PPM, or 4.1 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.