Hardness
Very Hard
254 PPM · 14.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Racine, WI 53404
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Racine County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Racine Waterworks
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Racine 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
0.0033 mg/L
22% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 105,100 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
254 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
254
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 254 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
19
Nearest site
16.2 mi
Observation range
Apr 12, 2016–Apr 22, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: EAGLE LAKE AT DEEP HOLE NEAR KANSASVILLE, WI (Lake, Reservoir, Impoundment).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 53404 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Racine median
249 PPM
5 PPM higher2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 243–254 PPM
Wisconsin median
288 PPM
34 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0033 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2025
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 0.0033
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 15
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WI2520191 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI2520191 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI2520191 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Feb 19, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI2520191 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2023through Jul 24, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI2520191 | Resolved | Oct 15, 2021through Feb 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WI2520191 | Resolved | Oct 15, 2021through Feb 19, 2025 |
| TTHM | WI2520191 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WI2520191 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI2520191 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Jul 12, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI2520191 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Jul 12, 2021 |
| Public Notice | WI2520191 | Resolved | Apr 18, 2021through Feb 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WI2520191 | Resolved | Apr 18, 2021through Feb 19, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WI2520191 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| TTHM | WI2520191 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Public Notice | WI2520062 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2015 |
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 Racine ZIP 53404 using 254 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
254 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 systemsAffiliate 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 Racine
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Racine
Is tap water safe in Racine?+
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 254 PPM, or 14.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 254 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.