Hardness
Very Hard
211.5 PPM · 12.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Birchwood, WI 54817
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Washburn County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Birchwood Waterworks
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Washburn 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
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 442 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
211.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
211.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
12.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 211.5 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
6
Nearest site
45.9 mi
Observation range
Jul 19, 2018–Aug 30, 2018
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: PDCT-U4 033N16W16BA 01 HQ 47 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 54817 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Birchwood median
212 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 211.5–211.5 PPM
Wisconsin median
288 PPM
76 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.001 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.895 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2017
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.895
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 10
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI8660302 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI8660302 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 11, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI8660302 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 11, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI8660302 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI8660302 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through May 8, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI8660302 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jun 16, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI8660302 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jul 12, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI8660302 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Jun 5, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | WI8660302 | Resolved | Oct 2, 2021through May 13, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI8660302 | Resolved | Oct 2, 2021through Mar 10, 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 Birchwood ZIP 54817 using 211.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
211.5 PPM is 2× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking 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 Birchwood
Is tap water safe in Birchwood?+
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 211.5 PPM, or 12.4 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 211.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.