Hardness
Very Hard
286 PPM · 16.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in La Valle, WI 53941
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Sauk County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- La Valle Waterworks
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Sauk 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
0.0018 mg/L
12% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 365 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
286 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
286
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 286 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
23
Nearest site
27.7 mi
Observation range
Aug 3, 2016–Aug 27, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: SK-08/04E/07-1934 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 53941 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
La Valle median
286 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 286–286 PPM
Wisconsin median
288 PPM
About the same556 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)
0.0018 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2023
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0018
EPA limit 0.015
Benzene
Measured in UG/L
Local 23.45
EPA limit 0.005
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 11
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI1570849 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI1570849 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | WI1570849 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WI1570849 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI1570849 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | WI1570849 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 19, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI1570849 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 16, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI1570849 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 16, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI1570849 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Jul 29, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI1570849 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Jul 29, 2021 |
| BenzeneHealth-basedReported 23.45 UG/L · MCL 0.005 | WI1570113 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 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 La Valle ZIP 53941 using 286 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
286 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
Benzene 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 La Valle
Is tap water safe in La Valle?+
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 286 PPM, or 16.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 286 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.